Kollam: A 34-year-old vlogger and director of an Islamic academy was arrested in Kerala's Ochira for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl on multiple occasions under the pretext of treating her ailments through prayers, police said on Sunday.

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The accused, identified as Mohammed Niyas Jouhari, heads the Habibiyya Islamic Academy in Ochira and hails from Devikulangara in Alappuzha district.

A case has been registered against him under various provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to police, the girl's paternal grandmother had taken her to Niyas, believing that he could treat her physical ailments through prayers. The accused allegedly gained the family's confidence by claiming he could cure the girl's health problems.

Police said Niyas allegedly took the girl to different places and sexually abused her on multiple occasions between 2025 and 2026.

The incident came to light after the girl disclosed the alleged abuse.

Following her complaint, Ochira police registered a case and took the accused into custody from Karunagappally on Saturday night. His arrest was formally recorded on Sunday after interrogation, police said.

According to information provided by the police, Niyas has more than one lakh followers across various social media platforms.