Pune school director arrested for ‘failing to ensure safety of children’, 2 more boys allege abuse by teacher

Pune police had on Tuesday arrested the dance teacher on charges of sexually abusing the two boys aged 10 and 11 on multiple occasions. Late on Wednesday, two more boys also accused the teacher of sexually abusing them, taking the total number of students allegedly abused by the teacher to four.

“On Thursday we arrested the 40-year-old director of the school under one of the two offences registered in the case in which we have added Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act. Parents have accused him of failing to ensure the safety, security and well-being of the children from any form of physical, mental or sexual abuse,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Sambhaji Kadam.

“As part of the probe we will investigate whether proper background checks were done for the accused teacher, whether there were safety and security checks in place including vigilance, and whether security cameras were installed. Prima facie there was no delay on part of the school authorities in reporting the matter to the police. The school authorities have taken adequate steps after the incident came to light, as mandated by POCSO. The director will be produced before the court on Friday,” he added.

Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act reads, ‘Whoever, having the actual charge of, or control over, a child, assaults, abandons, abuses, exposes or wilfully neglects the child or causes or procures the child to be assaulted, abandoned, abused, exposed or neglected in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary mental or physical suffering, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine of one lakh rupees or with both.”