Kozhikode: The Kerala state government has announced a financial compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the survivor of the Kozhikode Government Medical College ICU sexual assault case. Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan announced the compensation during a press conference held in Thiruvananthapuram, clarifying that the funds would be sanctioned from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.

The incident dates back to 18 March 2023. According to the prosecution case, the victim was sexually assaulted by a hospital attendant, M. M. Saseendran, while lying semi-conscious in the medical college ICU following thyroid surgery.

A long battle, final relief

For the survivor, being assaulted inside a government medical college—a primary healthcare sanctuary for common citizens—marked the beginning of an arduous ordeal. In the months that followed, she faced further humiliation and mental agony from the very authorities tasked with ensuring justice, while the accused enjoyed protection. What followed was a prolonged and relentless legal and public battle.

Faced with systemic denial of justice, the survivor took her protests to the streets, culminating in the compensation announcement that provides a measure of long-awaited relief.

As part of the disciplinary action in this widely discussed case, the accused attendant, M. M. Saseendran, was formally dismissed from service in August 2025.

Although the survivor filed an official complaint the day after the incident leading to Saseendran’s arrest within 48 hours, subsequent events revealed deliberate attempts by influential authorities to shield the perpetrator. Five hospital staff members had initially approached and threatened the survivor to withdraw her statement; they were suspended following a complaint, though they were later reinstated and transferred before being brought back.

Authorities were also accused of delaying decisive administrative action by repeatedly extending Saseendran's suspension without proceeding to dismissal. Furthermore, the examining medical college doctor reportedly failed to record the survivor's complete statement in her initial report to the police, forcing the victim to file further official complaints.

To obtain a copy of the inquiry report conducted by the Assistant Commissioner of Police—following a complaint to the Inspector General—the survivor was forced to stage a multi-day sit-in protest outside the City Police Commissioner's office.

In another controversial move, Senior Nursing Officer P. B. Anitha, who gave a statement supporting the survivor, was penalised with a transfer. Even after securing a favourable order from the Kerala High Court allowing her reinstatement at the medical college, hospital authorities initially blocked her return, prompting another wave of protests by the survivor until Anitha was finally permitted to resume her duties.

The case has been subject to two separate police investigations alongside two internal inquiries by the medical college administration.