56-year-old man sentenced to a total 161 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing autistic student

A 56-year-old teacher in Thiruvananthapuram was on Saturday (January 31, 2026) sentenced to a total of 161 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually abusing a ten-year-old autistic boy.

The accused, Santhosh Kumar of Powdikonam, was sentenced by the Fast Track Special Court (POCSO), Thiruvananthapuram, on multiple counts under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for a total of 161 years, according to the order issued by Special Judge Anju Meera Birla.

Since the sentences will run concurrently, he will have to serve only 20 years. Mr. Santhosh Kumar has also been ordered to pay ₹87,000 in fine, failing which he will have to undergo an additional eight-and-a-half-years of imprisonment.

Special public prosecutor R.S. Vijay Mohan appeared for the prosecution.

The incident pertaining to the case took place in July 2019. The accused was a teacher in the school attended by the victim. The case against him was that he had exploited the child’s condition to sexually abuse him.

Although the child’s mother noticed a change in him, the latter could not clearly explain what had happened. She had also noticed bruises on his body. However, he had written down his experience in his notebook. Subsequently, more details came out after the child’s speech therapist interacted with him. Since the lack of clarity persisted, a three-member panel including a doctor from Mental Health Centre was constituted and the police recorded the child’s statement afresh. The accused had abused the child in the bathroom of the school.

Assistant Commissioner (Narcotics Cell) Sheen Tharayil, Sreekaryam Inspector Abhilash David and SI R. Biju investigated the case.