Bus driver sentenced to 5 years RI for sexually abusing minor girl

The Thiruvananthapuram Fast Track Special Court on Monday sentenced a bus conductor to five years rigorous imprisonment and fined ₹15,000 for sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl.

Special Judge Anju Meera Birla pronounced the sentence on Arun Kumar, 46, of Aruvikkara. If he fails to pay the fine, he will have to undergo another six months in prison.

The judgment stated that the amount of the fine along with compensation from the District Legal Services Office must be provided to the survivor.

According to the prosecution led by Special Public Prosecutor RS Vijay Mohan, the incident that led to the case took place on September 23, 2024 in a bus traveling from Vellanad to East Fort.

The accused was the conductor of the bus, which the deceased used to regularly take him to school in the morning. On the day of the incident, the accused molested the girl inside a heavily crowded bus.

The girl, frightened by the incident, initially did not disclose the matter to anyone. Since no replacement buses were available, she had to take the same bus to school. Repeated visions of the defendant led her to fall into depression. The abuse finally came to light when she was taken to a psychologist for treatment. The museum police subsequently registered the case.

The prosecution heard 17 witnesses and presented 25 documents during the trial.

Published – July 7, 2026 0:08 AM IST