Chalakkudy molestation case: Professor denied bail

Thrissur: The POCSO court here on Tuesday refused to grant bail to a professor of Kerala Agriculture University’s (KAU) Research Station at Chalakkudy who was arrested last week for allegedly molesting a minor girl on a moving private bus. Judge Muhammed Wasim denied the bail application of Edathootu Srinivasan, 59,a resident of Mattathoorkunnu near Kodakara.  The incident happened in bus near Potta Retreat Centre near Chalakkudy, on 20 September. Based on the statement of the girl, the Chalakkudy police filed a case under sections IPC 354 and 8, 10, 12 of POCSO Act.

The special public prosecutor Pious Mathew, argued that as the accused was a government servant he could influence the witnesses and also put pressure on the victim. Pious said that giving him bail would send out a wrong message to the society and hence should be denied the bail. Prosecution also told the court that in 1982 the professor was suspended for six months for trying to sexually harass a sweeper at  Vallayani Agriculture college. Action was taken following departmental inquiry and he was sent to Kasargod as punishment transfer.