Thiruvananthapuram POCSO Court Sentences Former KCA Cricket Coach Manu M. to 35 Years Imprisonment

In a significant verdict checking serial crimes in sports coaching, a 40-year-old cricket coach in Thiruvananthapuram has been sentenced to 35 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI).

This strict penalty marks the conclusion of the second of six registered sexual abuse cases against the accused, identified as Manu M. from Sreevaraham. The former coach was found guilty of exploiting a minor female student who had enrolled at his cricket coaching academy.

The Thiruvananthapuram Fast Track Special Court, presided over by Special Judge Anju Meera Birla, delivered the stringent verdict after reviewing extensive evidence presented by the prosecution.

Manu M. was handed a definitive 35-year term of rigorous imprisonment.The court also slapped the accused with a fine of ₹66,000. If he fails to pay the ordered amount, he will face an additional prison term of six years and nine months. While this sentencing pertains exclusively to the second case, the court has already found the former Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) coach guilty in a third case under similar circumstances, with that specific sentence to be pronounced separately.

Modus Operandi: Exploitation and Professional Threats

According to the prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor R.S. Vijay Mohan, the survivor in this second case joined the Thiruvananthapuram-based coaching centre in 2018.

The investigation revealed that Manu M. systematically abused his position of authority. Under the pretext of providing specialized fitness and cricket training, the accused took the minor girl to the centre's gym and bathrooms, where the sexual abuse occurred. Furthermore, he captured sensitive, unauthorized photographs and videos of the victim to use as leverage.

To maintain her silence, the coach used intense psychological threats, warning the victim that he would completely ruin her future prospects in professional cricket if she spoke out. When the survivor eventually refused to comply with his ongoing demands, he stopped providing her with proper cricket coaching, forcing her to leave the academy for another training centre in 2019.

How the Serial Abuse Chain Was Broken

Despite the abuse occurring years prior, the survivors remained silent out of intense fear of professional retaliation and social stigma. The horrifying string of serial abuse finally surfaced during a girls' cricket tournament held in Thiruvananthapuram.

One of the victims unexpectedly spotted the accused at the event, panicked, and broke down crying uncontrollably. Her emotional breakdown led to an inquiry, and her subsequent police complaint gave five other girls the courage to step forward and file their own independent cases against the coach.

A total of six cases were registered against Manu M. under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, with trials for four cases already completed. In a significant move, the prosecution successfully argued under Section 427 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) that the sentences for each case should run consecutively rather than concurrently. The special court accepted this argument, meaning the 35-year rigorous imprisonment sentence for this second case will commence only after the accused has fully completed his entire prison term from the first conviction, ensuring a prolonged period of imprisonment.