Psychologist held for molesting minor

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Assistant professor of psychology in the health department, Dr K Gireesh, has been arrested by the city police on charges of sexually assaulting a 12-year old boy during counselling sessions. The 55-year-old doctor was booked under relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was produced before the court on Thursday and subsequently remanded in judicial custody. His arrest was recorded at Fort police station.
Gireesh was wanted by the Fort police for a case registered in August, 2017 for a similar offence of sexual harassment of a 13-year-old boy during counselling sessions in his private clinic. But, before they could arrest him, he went absconding and approached the state high court seeking anticipatory bail. When the court dismissed his bail plea, he filed another petition before the Supreme Court, which is pending under consideration.

According to the police, the alleged crime took place during 2015-16 when the survivor was a class VII student. The survivor is a class X student now. Since he had learning difficulties, his parents chose to consult Dr K Gireesh at the latter's private clinic at Therakam near Killippalam. He allegedly sexually assaulted the boy during the monthly counselling sessions. He is also alleged to have shown pornographic content to the victim.

"The sexual assault worsened the mental condition of the boy following which his parents took him to other psychologists. A week ago, they consulted a psychologist at Medical College Hospital, who advised to admit the boy in the hospital,'' said Fort station house officer Inspector Aji Chandran Nair. The doctor had been trying to delve into the past of the boy and during the counselling session on Tuesday morning, the boy revealed the sexual assault he faced.

The doctor promptly alerted the police, who recorded the statements of the boy in the same afternoon and took the doctor into custody from his residence at Manacaud by evening. His arrest was recorded in the night.

"We acted swiftly so that he did not get time to escape like in the past,'' the inspector said.

Despite the controversy following the first case, Gireesh had been continuing practice. He did not stop his private practice either. He had consultations even on Wednesday, the police said. The police have invoked sections 7, 9(e), 9(l), 10, 11(iii) and 12 of POCSO Act.