Published Mar 04, 2026 | 6:31 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 04, 2026 | 6:31 PM
Child abuse. Representative Image. (iStock)
Synopsis: The man abused her for months when she was in Class V. She did not tell anyone about the torture until she saw a person resembling her tormentor.
A man in Thiruvananthapuram was awarded rigorous imprisonment for 18 years after an MBBS student recalled the sexual abuse she had suffered at his hands when she was a child.
The Thiruvananthapuram Fast Track Special Court Judge Anju Meera Birla, on Wednesday, 4 March, sentenced Subash Kumar (57) of Medical College to 18 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹35,000.
Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three-and-a-half years in prison.
According to the prosecution, the abuse began in 2013 when the survivor was studying in Class V.
The accused, who was then her tuition teacher, repeatedly assaulted her over several months until January 2014.
Threats from the accused kept the child from speaking out, and she discontinued tuition classes while in Class VI.
The psychological scars lingered.
The trauma affected her studies, costing her a year during Plus Two.
In the years that followed, she struggled with fear, isolation and panic attacks.
During the COVID period, she underwent online psychological treatment but did not initially reveal the abuse, even to her family.
It was only after joining an MBBS course and moving into a hostel that suppressed memories resurfaced. Seeing a man who resembled the accused triggered severe emotional distress.
During subsequent medical consultation, the details of the past abuse came to light, prompting police intervention.
The prosecution was led by Special Public Prosecutor Advocate RS Vijay Mohan, assisted by Advocate Surabhi P.
The investigation was carried out under the supervision of Cyber City Assistant Commissioner Niyaz P, with Medical College Sub-Inspector Vishnu PL handling the probe.
The court also directed the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to ensure compensation for the survivor from the fine amount.
