Kerala High Court | Image Source: X

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has granted bail to a school teacher and a former BJP leader sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in the sensational Palathayi case, observing that there were prima facie inconsistencies in the prosecution case.A division bench comprising Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar allowed the bail application filed by KK Padmarajan alias Pappan Mash, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Fast Track Special Court in Thalassery in November 2025, in the case registered in connection with the alleged sexual assault on a minor at Palathayi near Panoor in Kannur district.

The court, in its order dated August 20, said a preliminary analysis of the victim's evidence showed an "inconsistent, embellished, improved and fanciful version" regarding the alleged sexual abuse.
It also noted that the alleged place of occurrence, a school toilet, was close to classrooms and that the school was situated on a small extent of property.
The court noted that the victim was initially examined by a doctor who did not notice any evidence of sexual abuse.
The bench also noted that three teams had conducted the investigation and that the local police and Crime Branch had arrived at different conclusions regarding the alleged sexual assault.
"We are of the view that the applicant has made out a good case on merits in the appeal, and the grounds urged by him are compelling," the court said, adding that there was prima facie some infirmity in the conviction order.
The trial court had convicted Padmarajan under various provisions of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sentenced him to imprisonment for life for the remainder of his natural life.
He was also sentenced to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment each for offences under the POCSO Act.
The High Court, however, made the bail subject to several conditions.
The accused was directed not to enter the revenue district where the survivor resides and was barred from contacting the victim, her friends or relatives.
He was also prohibited from making comments on social media or giving interviews concerning the case.
The court directed him to execute a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two solvent sureties and prohibited him from leaving the country without prior permission.
The case pertains to alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old schoolgirl by her own teacher and BJP leader Padmarajan.
The case turned into a political controversy in Kannur, with the BJP repeatedly claiming that the complaint was part of a conspiracy by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) to tarnish its local leadership.
The UDF alleged that police attempted to derail the probe after the case was registered at Panoor station.
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