The Fast Track Mahila Court in Udhagamandalam, on April 12, 2024, sentenced a 24-year-old man to life in prison for the rape and murder of a minor girl. The accused, Rajnesh Kuttan, is said to be related to the victim, a Class 9 student. According to the sources, on April 24, 2023, Rajnesh Kuttan spotted the victim waiting for a bus and offered to drop her home. He is then said to have sexually abused and murdered the girl. Her body was disposed of in a forested area, where it was found by police and local residents. The police arrested the accused and charged him with murder and under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Special public prosecutor (Mahila court), P. Senthil Kumar, appeared on behalf of the prosecution. Judge R. Sridharan found Kuttan guilty and sentenced him to life in prison, along with a fine of ₹53,000.