T’puram: A fast track special court here on Monday sentenced a cricket coach to 28 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 54,000 in the fourth case related to sexual assault of a minor girl.Judge Anju Meera Birla found Manu M (40) of Sreevaraham, guilty in the case. Court ordered that the sentence in the present case would commence only after completion of prison terms awarded in the previous cases. However, the convict will have to undergo an effective imprisonment of seven years in this case. Accepting the prosecution’s arguments, the court directed that the sentences be served consecutively.With the latest verdict, Manu has now been sentenced to a total of 127 years in prison and fined Rs 2.23 lakh in four separate cases. The court said he would have to undergo an effective imprisonment of 42 years.According to prosecution, the survivor had joined the coaching centre in June 2018. The accused had allegedly taken the girl to the gym and other areas of the facility and sexually assaulted her. Prosecution said she remained silent for years as the accused had allegedly threatened her.The case surfaced in 2024 when another survivor, who had come to the city for a girls’ cricket tournament, recognized the accused and raised an alarm. Following her complaint, other survivors came forward, leading to the registration of six cases against the coach.The trial in the remaining two cases is yet to begin pending scientific examination reports.
