Astrologer's Bail Bid Falters Amid Chilling Evidence of Assault on Minor

The Kerala High Court has turned down the bail plea of an astrologer from Kollam who stands accused of luring a 16-year-old girl and her mother into his consultation room with promises of spiritual remedies, only to allegedly orchestrate a horrific sexual assault disguised as a ritual to expel evil spirits.

Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath delivered the ruling on 18 May 2026 , dismissing the application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita by the sole accused, Rajan Babu alias Murari Thantri.

From Consultation to Alleged Nightmare

The troubling sequence began on 8 February 2026 when the victim and her mother visited the accused's astrology centre in Puthoor after fixing an appointment. The petitioner reportedly convinced them that the girl was possessed by an evil spirit requiring urgent, elaborate poojas. He then led the minor into a secluded room on the pretext of conducting the ritual.

According to the prosecution narrative, the accused instructed the victim to remove her clothes. When she resisted, he allegedly turned violent, assaulting her and attempting sexual assault. The complaint led to registration of Crime No. 182 of 2026 at Puthoor Police Station , invoking stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with multiple sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 .

The accused was taken into custody the very next day and has remained in judicial remand since.

Defence Claims Innocence; Prosecution Highlights Intent

Counsel for the applicant insisted that his client had been wrongly implicated and that the prosecution record lacked any credible link connecting him to the crime. The defence urged the court to consider that the final report had already been filed and pressed for regular bail .

The Senior Public Prosecutor countered firmly, portraying the incident as a calculated sequence of criminal acts rather than an impulsive lapse. The State emphasised that the accused's conduct demonstrated clear premeditation and that releasing him at this stage would undermine the gravity of the offences.

Court's Scrutiny of Evidence Reveals Disturbing Details

Justice Edappagath carefully examined the case diary and available materials before concluding that the accusations carried exceptional gravity. The bench noted clear indications of a carefully planned criminal enterprise.

Medical documentation revealed the presence of bite marks on the minor victim's lips. The First Information Statement recorded a coherent and detailed account from the victim herself. Investigators also recovered blood-stained articles belonging to the victim from the scene of occurrence.

"A perusal of the case diary would reveal that the accusation against the applicant is very serious, and it prima facie shows a premeditated criminal act on his part. The available medical records would show that bite marks were seen on the lips of the minor victim."

Pivotal Findings That Tilted the Scales

Beyond the victim's testimony, the recovery of blood-stained dress and other incriminating materials from the place of occurrence strengthened the prosecution's position. While acknowledging that the charge-sheet had been submitted, the court held that the seriousness of the allegations outweighed considerations that might otherwise favour bail.

The judge explicitly stated there was no reason to disbelieve the victim's account given its consistency with supporting medical and forensic evidence.

Outcome and Broader Implications

The bail application stands dismissed. The ruling reinforces the principle that courts will not lightly grant bail in cases alleging sexual offences against minors when the material on record indicates deliberate and premeditated conduct. By prioritising the protection of vulnerable victims and the integrity of the investigation, the Kerala High Court has sent a clear message that claims of innocence must be weighed against concrete evidence of harm.

This decision is expected to guide lower courts when confronted with similar bail requests in POCSO matters involving allegations of exploitation under false spiritual or ritualistic pretences.

Key Observations
— "The accusation against the applicant is very serious, and it prima facie shows a premeditated criminal act on his part."
— "The available medical records would show that bite marks were seen on the lips of the minor victim."
— "The victim has narrated the entire incident in the FIS. I see no reason to disbelieve the same ."
— "That apart, the blood stains belonging to the victim were recovered from the place of occurrence along with her bloodstained dress."
— "Considering the seriousness of the allegation , I am not inclined to grant bail to the applicant."