The investigating officer in the case related to the death of an 18-month-old child from Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram has reported to the Kerala High Court on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) that the investigation was completed and a final report was filed before the special court concerned on August 19, 2025.The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V.M. Syam Kumar noted that the first and second accused remained in custody and stated that the matter would be considered again on October 7, 2026.The Nedumangad police had insisted that the child was subjected to repeated physical abuse by his stepfather, the first accused. It was also reported that the child’s mother had witnessed several instances of the alleged abuse, but had not intervened.The suo motu petition before the Bench was initiated after considering two separate instances of alleged child abuse, where the court noted that the children were treated in hospitals, but no reports were made to the authorities concerned. The court had expressed concern over public safety, the protection of life and the absolute breakdown of mandatory reporting mechanisms. It sought to establish strict protocols connecting law enforcement, health-care institutions and child welfare officers to secure a mandatory reporting framework for suspected child abuse. Published - September 02, 2026 08:52 pm IST