The Elathur police have arrested a 25-year-old gym trainer from Kolakkad near Atholi in Kozhikode, Keralam on charges of sexually assaulting a minor girl after allegedly administering her a sedative. The arrested person has been identified as Rishad of Vellamparambath House, Kolakkad, Atholi.

According to the police, the accused, who was the personal gym trainer of the student from Annassery, allegedly visited her house and forced her to pose for semi-naked photographs. He later allegedly morphed the photographs into nude images and sent them to the girl, threatening to circulate them on social media.

The accused then allegedly took the girl in a car to a villa in Vythiri, Wayanad, where he mixed a sedative into juice and forced her to consume it. Police sources said he sexually assaulted the girl after she became semi-conscious and again recorded nude photographs and videos of her on his mobile phone.

The incident came to light after the girl lodged a complaint with the police, following which an investigation was launched. A special squad comprising Sub-Inspectors Nimin K. Divakaran and Shamil took the accused into custody at Atholi on Sunday and recorded his arrest under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused had been working as a gym trainer and personal fitness coach in the Atholi, Andikkode, and Thiruvangoor areas.