Kozhikode WCD officer accused of framing colleague, likely to face POCSO charge

Kozhikode: Police have booked a Women and Child Development (WCD) department official for filing a false sexual assault case against a former colleague.

The Kasaba police began proceedings following the intervention of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), prompted by testimony from three boys at a boys’ welfare centre who accused the WCD officer of sexual assault. This testimony has led to the consideration of imposing a POCSO charge against him. Further suspicions have arisen regarding the individual's possible role in enabling abuse by others.

The accused is from Kozhikode, and the alleged crime occurred during his tenure as Coordinator of the boys' welfare centre in the city. 

The incidents related to the case began in December 2022 when the person allegedly coerced a Class 5 child residing in the shelter to lodge a complaint against his colleague. The child initially confided in his teacher, and this was later repeated to the Counsellor, CWC, Police, and Magistrate. Consequently, the colleague, an employee of the welfare centre, was arrested and remanded.

However, after a thorough investigation, law enforcement discovered the complaint to be baseless. Subsequently, the case was closed based on the police's reinvestigation report.

A departmental inquiry by the WCD department revealed the Coordinator's responsibility in fabricating the complaint and coercing the child to testify against his colleague. Moreover, three children made molestation allegations against the Coordinator, alleging additional mistreatment at the shelter. The CWC has filed three separate complaints with the police. Investigations into these allegations are ongoing.