Pune: School Teacher Arrested for Sexual Harassment of 12-Year-Old Student in Pimpri Chinchwad
Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri Chinchwad, 24th August 2024: A minor student was allegedly sexually harassed for the past two years at her school. The perpetrator is her PT Teacher, who has a history of similar molestation cases. A case has been registered against eight individuals, all of whom have been arrested.
The victim’s parents reported the incident to the Nigdi Police Station. The police have filed charges against the eight accused, including the PT Teacher, the school’s principal, and the institute’s chairman. Among the accused is also a woman, and all have been taken into custody.
The case has been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 74 (assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage a woman’s modesty), Section 78 (stalking), Section 79 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult a woman’s modesty), Section 351 (criminal intimidation), Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), and Section 13 (enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction). Additionally, relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act of 2012, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2015, and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989 (POA Act) have been applied.
According to police, the 12-year-old girl revealed to her parents that she had been enduring sexual harassment by her teacher for the past two years. The parents immediately filed a complaint with Nigdi Police Station. The accused reportedly threatened the minor victim with severe beatings if she told anyone about the abuse. He would inappropriately touch her while taking the students outside the classroom for PT periods. The complaint also states that he would wait outside when she went to the bathroom and had physically beaten her for minor reasons.
12-Year-Old Speaks Out Following Police Guidance
In response to the rising number of assault cases, Pimpri-Chinchwad police increased vigilance and instructed school teachers to ensure the safety of female students. They held meetings with principals, emphasized the enforcement of government orders, and conducted character verification of school staff. Women officers from Nigdi Police Station visited schools to educate students about good and bad touch, which led to a 12-year-old girl disclosing the inappropriate behavior she had been experiencing.
Main Accused a Repeat Offender
A case of child sexual abuse was registered against the accused sports teacher at Nigdi Police Station in 2018. He was also convicted of that crime by the court. Despite this, the school management re-employed him. The parents of the victim have alleged that the school management has enabled the crime of sexual harassment by allowing him to return.
Similar Case Last Month in Nigdi
A similar case occurred last month in Nigdi, where a minor mentally disabled girl was sexually assaulted, leading to the arrest of a 50-year-old peon. A case was registered against him. The peon would touch her inappropriately with his lips and hands and show her obscene videos. He also forced her to engage in sexual acts multiple times since 2022.
