Kannur, Nov. 15 -- Former BJP leader K Padmarajan has been sentenced to life imprisonment until death and fined one lakh rupees after being found guilty in the Palathayi child rape case.

The sentence was handed down by the Thalassery fast-track POCSO court in Kerala.

The probe began after allegations that the fourth-grade girl was sexually assaulted in the school toilet and in another house. The school is located in Palathayi in Kannur district. A complaint was received by the Thalassery Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) on March 16, 2020. The initial investigation by the Panoor police concluded that the complaint was false. However, after strong protests, a case was filed under the POCSO Act.

Padmarajan, a teacher, was arrested ...