Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 6: A 26-year-old badminton coach in Bengaluru has been apprehended by police following allegations of raping a 16-year-old student. The arrest was made after the victim's grandmother discovered an explicit photograph on her phone, triggering an investigation.

Suresh Balaji (26) hails from Tamil Nadu, is the accused. 

The victim, who had recently completed her class 10 examinations and was visiting her grandmother, had sent the incriminating photo to the coach using her grandmother's phone. Upon discovering the image, the grandmother alerted the victim's parents.

During questioning by her mother, the teenager disclosed that the coach had been sexually assaulting her under the pretense of providing extra training sessions.

The coach, residing alone in Bengaluru, reportedly lured the girl to his residence on multiple occasions, where he sexually assaulted her and threatened her to remain silent. The victim's parents subsequently filed a police complaint, leading to the coach's arrest.

Authorities have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and are investigating the applicability of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, given the victim's age. The coach has reportedly confessed to the assaults during initial police questioning.

It is said that several girls were sexually assaulted at a sports training center, and nude photos and videos of several girls aged 13 to 16 were found on the coach's mobile phone.

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of crimes against minors in India, as evidenced by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, which reported over 47,000 cases under the POCSO Act in 2022.

The sports centre where the victim trained has not yet issued a formal statement. However, parents of other students are reportedly demanding a thorough review of the coaching staff and safety measures.