Abuse complaint by minor in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta found to be fabricated

A preliminary police investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl by her classmates has concluded that the complaint was fabricated.

Officials stated that the probe, corroborated by medical examination reports, confirmed that no sexual assault had occurred. Following the receipt of the medical evaluation report, the minor retracted her initial allegations during further questioning and admitted that she had not been assaulted by her peers.

Earlier, the police had interrogated six youths in connection with the case. The investigators, however, cited glaring inconsistencies in the girl’s statement and discrepancies in the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident as the primary reasons for their release. Investigators are currently probing whether the false complaint was the fallout of a personal dispute among the children.

The allegations originally came to light during a counselling session held at the minor’s school. At the time, she claimed to have been assaulted by over 10 individuals, explicitly identifying six of her classmates among the perpetrators. Based on this disclosure, the Koodal police registered two First Information Reports (FIRs).

Initial testimony

According to her initial testimony, the alleged offences took place near the school premises and at the residence of a co-accused minor girl. However, the timeline of events quickly unravelled as subsequent inquiries revealed that the individuals taken into custody were not present together at the specified locations during the alleged timeframe.

Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson K.V. Manoj Kumar too initiated proceedings in the case and sought detailed reports on the matter from the District Police Chief, the district child protection officer, and the Child Welfare Committee.