‘CCTV proof sufficient’: No pre-arrest bail in Mumbai playschool assault case

Two teachers aged 42 and 40 were booked for allegedly pinching children on their cheeks, hitting them on their heads with books, picking them up and throwing and dragging them on the floor.

kandivali playschool assault news, mumbai news, indian express

Two teachers booked for allegedly assaulting playschool kids in Kandivali. (File Representational Photo)

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While refusing anticipatory bail to two teachers booked for allegedly assaulting playschool kids in Kandivali, a Mumbai court has said there is prima facie material to show the children are in depression and not ready to go to school owing to the accused duo’s “very cruel behaviour”.

Though the Dindoshi sessions court rejected the pre-arrest bail pleas on April 15, the detailed order was made available on Monday. “The contents in the FIR (registered by the Kandivali police) clearly indicate that the accused have committed the alleged cruel and brutal act with very small kids aged about 2-4 years. No leniency shown by them while committing alleged brutal acts with the small children. Therefore, the allegations made in the complaint that those children suffered mental trauma due to alleged acts of the applicants (is) found trustworthy. Thus, there is prima facie material on record to draw an inference that due to very cruel behaviour of the applicant with the small children, those children are in depression and now they are not ready to go to school,” additional sessions judge N L Kale said, adding that the acts were “heinous and against the society”.

Earlier this month, two teachers aged 42 and 40 were booked on the complaint of the children’s parents. Police relied on CCTV footage from the playschool that allegedly showed the teachers pinching the children on their cheeks, slapping them repeatedly, hitting them on their heads with books, picking them up and throwing and dragging them on the floor.

The two teachers said they had been falsely implicated and were ready to cooperate with the investigation. They also said custodial interrogation was not necessary as police already had evidence including CCTV footage.

Besides police, the parents also opposed the pre-arrest bail pleas stating that their children were going through stress because of the incidents. The court said the CCTV footage prima facie was sufficient to show the two teachers’ participation in the offence.

Nayonika Bose

Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents. Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T) Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area. Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including: Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft). Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout). Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks. Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration. Tweets @nayonikakb ... Read More

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