In a disturbing case that has shaken the coastal community of Kozhikode, a 25-year-old gym trainer was arrested Sunday for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a minor student—a crime police say involved calculated manipulation and digital blackmail.

Key facts

  • Arrested: Rishad, 25, gym trainer from Kolakkad, Atholi
  • Charges: POCSO Act violations including assault, blackmail, administering sedatives
  • Location: Incident occurred at a villa in Vythiri, Wayanad
  • Arrest made by Elathur police special squad on September 7, 2026

A Trust Betrayed

The accused, identified as Rishad of Vellamparambath House, worked as the personal fitness coach for the minor girl from Annassery. Police say he exploited that position of trust—visiting her home, coercing her into semi-nude photographs, then morphing those images into explicit content. He used those fabricated photos to threaten the girl, warning her they would be circulated online if she didn’t comply.

The Assault in Wayanad

What followed was even more chilling. Rishad allegedly drove the student to a secluded villa in Vythiri, where he mixed a sedative into her juice. Once she was semi-conscious, police say he sexually assaulted her and recorded nude videos and photos on his phone—compounding the violation with digital evidence meant to silence her.

Justice in Motion

The girl’s courage broke the cycle. She reported the crime to police, who swiftly formed a special squad. Sub-Inspectors Nimin K. Divakaran and Shamil led the operation, apprehending Rishad in Atholi on Sunday. He now faces serious charges under the POCSO Act—a law designed to protect children from precisely this kind of predation.

Rishad had been working as a trainer across Atholi, Andikkode, and Thiruvangoor. Now, his career lies in ruins, and a community is left grappling with how trust can be weaponized.