Teacher sentenced to life imprisonment for raping student dismissed from service
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Sunday said that a teacher who was also a BJP activist, sentenced by a court to life imprisonment for raping a student in Palathayi here, has been dismissed from service.
Thalassery Fast Track Special Court Judge Jalarajani M T sentenced Padmarajan K, also known as Pappen Master (48) and a resident of Kadavathoor, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty under various sections and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on November 15.
Sivankutty said on his Facebook page that the manager of the school where Padmarajan worked has issued an order dismissing him from service.
Following the court verdict, the General Education Department had directed the school management to initiate disciplinary action.
According to the prosecution, Padmarajan sexually assaulted the 10-year-old student in the toilet of the educational institution and at his residence.
Panoor police registered a case on March 17, 2020, and arrested the accused on April 15.
The BJP had alleged that the case was part of a conspiracy by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
The case was later handed over to the Crime Branch, which initially did not include POCSO charges, allowing the accused to secure bail.
After concerns were raised by the victim’s family, the Kerala High Court ordered a fresh investigation.
The investigation team was changed twice due to dissatisfaction with the earlier inquiries.
A fifth investigation team led by Additional Director General of Police E J Jayaraj finally completed the probe and filed a charge sheet.
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Man held for murdering elder brother in Latur
Latur (PTI): A man was arrested in Latur for allegedly murdering his elder brother, a police official said on Sunday.
The body of Gulab Vilas Kharose (34) was found on the bund of a field in Nilanga tehsil on February 18, following which a murder case was registered as it bore strangulation marks, the Kasarsirsi police station official said.
The probe zeroed in on the victim's younger brother Ulhas Kharose (32), he added.
"The two brothers had frequent quarrels over land and family matters. Ulhas attacked and killed his elder brother on the evening of February 17. Ulhas has been remanded in police custody till February 24," the official said.
