Double life sentence for priest convicted in POCSO case

A 45-year-old temple priest, convicted by a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Thiruvananthapuram for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl under the pretext of performing rituals to “drive away evil spirits,” has been sentenced to two life terms (until death) and fined ₹2 lakh. 

Bineesh, a native of Moothakunnam in Paravur, Ernakulam, was convicted and sentenced by Thiruvananthapuram Additional Sessions Court Judge Shibu M.P. in a case dating back to 2019. 

According to the prosecution, the accused was serving as the priest at a temple in Kannammoola when the survivor, then a Class IX student who was suffering from exam-related anxiety, was brought to him by her mother for special prayers. 

The priest allegedly misled the parent into believing that the child was possessed and suggested performing certain rituals to exorcise the evil spirits. He then took the minor into a puja room attached to the temple premises and subjected the girl to sexual abuse for many days. Eventually, the child revealed the details of the torture to a doctor at a mental aid camp.  

The case was argued by special public prosecutor Ajith Prasad J.K. along with lawyers Bindu V.C. and Durga R.C.