A fast-track special court in Thalassery, Kerala, sentenced former school teacher Padmarajan K alias Pappen Master (48) to life imprisonment on Saturday for raping a 10-year-old girl. The court also imposed significant fines, directing the funds to the victim.
Judge Jalarajani M T of the Thalassery Fast Track Special Court found Padmarajan, a resident of Kadavathoor, guilty of repeatedly sexually assaulting the minor. The assaults occurred between January and February 2020 while he taught at a school in Palathayi.
Court Sentencing Details
Padmarajan received a life sentence and a fine of Rs 1 lakh under IPC section 376AB , which specifically addresses the rape of a girl below 12 years. In addition, the court imposed two separate sentences of 20 years rigorous imprisonment each and a fine of Rs 50,000 each under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. These convictions were for sections 5(f) , covering penetrative sexual assault on a child, and 5(l) , for committing penetrative sexual assault on a child more than once.
The court also found Padmarajan guilty of offences under IPC section 376(2)(f) , which applies to rape by a person in a position of trust or authority, and POCSO Act section 5(m) , for penetrative sexual assault on a child below 12 years. While found guilty, the court chose not to order separate sentences for these specific charges. Instead, it directed that the rigorous imprisonment terms under the POCSO Act must be served first, prior to the commencement of the life term.
Victim Compensation and Support
All imposed fine amounts will be paid to the victim. The District Legal Services Authority has been instructed to investigate and recommend appropriate compensation for the girl.
Accused’s Plea and Imprisonment
Before the sentence announcement, Padmarajan sought leniency. He claimed to be his family’s sole financial provider. The prosecution, however, argued that the severity of the crime required strict punishment. Padmarajan was subsequently transferred to Kannur Central Prison.
Investigation and Legal Process
The prosecution detailed that Padmarajan sexually assaulted the 10-year-old student both in the educational institution’s toilet and at his residence. Panoor police registered the initial case on March 17, 2020 , and arrested Padmarajan on April 15, 2020 .
The initial investigation into the case, however, faced significant controversy and underwent multiple changes. The BJP, a political party, alleged that the case was part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The investigation was subsequently transferred to the Crime Branch. Critically, this initial Crime Branch probe did not include charges under the POCSO Act, which enabled Padmarajan to secure bail.
Following strong concerns raised by the victim’s family, the Kerala High Court intervened and ordered a fresh, comprehensive investigation. Dissatisfaction with the initial and subsequent probes led to the investigation team being changed twice more, indicating persistent issues in the process. Ultimately, a fifth investigation team, led by Additional Director General of Police E J Jayaraj, successfully completed the probe and filed a detailed chargesheet, officials confirmed.
Trial Proceedings
The trial commenced in February last year . During the proceedings, authorities examined a total of 42 witnesses and reviewed 91 documents . This extensive evidence collection led to Padmarajan’s conviction and sentencing for the crimes committed.