Palathayi POCSO Case: UDF Silent on Bail to BJP Leader Padmarajan

Thiruvananthapuram: The Muslim League and UDF leadership are unable to answer the question being raised across the state: how did BJP leader K Padmarajan, who sexually assaulted a fourth-grade girl in her school toilet, secure bail? Television journalists and cultural activists who had spoken out demanding justice for the Palathayi girl during the LDF government’s tenure are now silent. There have been no prime-time debates or media trials on the High Court verdict or the failures of the UDF government.

The media has not even had the courage to criticise the High Court verdict that granted bail to BJP leader Padmarajan. The suspension of the sentence and grant of bail to the accused in the sexual assault case came after the prosecution failed to properly place the relevant facts before the High Court. The Director General of Prosecution and Additional Director General of Prosecution, who now head the prosecution in the High Court, were among those who had raised their voices on television demanding justice for the Palathayi girl during the LDF government. However, the same voices were not heard when Padmarajan’s bail petition was considered by the High Court.

Padmarajan would not have secured bail if the government pleader had properly convinced the High Court about the Thalassery POCSO court verdict. The prosecution and the UDF government have helped secure bail for a person accused of brutally assaulting a young girl for political gains. The Law Department turned a blind eye to facilitate bail for the BJP leader as part of a UDF-BJP deal. The fact that the bail petition was taken up earlier than scheduled has also raised suspicions.