Cricket coach found guilty in Pocso case, sentence on Tuesday

T’puram: A special fast-track court found a 40-year-old cricket coach guilty in the case related to the sexual abuse of a minor girl who attended a cricket coaching centre in the city.

The court will pronounce the sentence on Tuesday.Judge Anju Meera Birla delivered the verdict after trial in the case registered under Pocso Act. However, the court acquitted the accused of the charge of attempted rape.According to prosecution, the survivor joined a prominent cricket coaching centre in 2018. The accused allegedly subjected her to sexual abuse after taking her to the gymnasium and bathrooms under the pretext of training.

The coach was also accused of intimidating children and exploiting his position to silence victims.The survivor later shifted to another coaching centre in 2019 after allegedly being denied proper coaching for resisting the accused’s advances. The prosecution said the child remained silent for years due to threats that her cricket career would be ruined if she revealed the abuse.The case surfaced in 2024 when a former trainee reportedly recognised the accused during a women’s cricket tournament and raised alarm.

Her complaint encouraged other survivors to come forward, resulting in the registration of six cases against the coach.Trials in four of six cases have been completed. Last month, the same court convicted him in another case involving similar allegations. With the latest verdict, he has now been found guilty in a second case, while proceedings in the remaining cases are continuing.Special public prosecutor R S Vijay Mohan appeared for the prosecution.