A 32-year-old English teacher of a reputed South Delhi school was arrested for molesting a 10-year-old girl student of the school. The arrest was made on Tuesday afternoon following a complaint lodged by the Principal of Blue Bells School, at Greater Kailash Police Station, South-East Delhi.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused, who has been with the school since 2005, is a habitual offender and four other girls also complained of being molested by him. As news of his arrest spread, the girls approached their respective class teachers and complained about the teacher. They alleged that the accused would often molest them in class rooms.
Initial investigations revealed that he was molesting the students for the last six months, but the investigators are questioning school staff and students to ascertain if he was accused of such acts earlier also. The students said the teacher would call them to the staff room on the pretext of giving them extra classes and then molest them.
“After molesting them, he threatened them with dire consequences, if they informed anyone about this matter,” a senior police officer said. He has been booked under the charges of molestation (354), 342 (illegal confinement) of the Indian Penal Code and several sections of Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Police said that the accused, Nirmal, was teaching students of class V to XI and is married.
“The incident came to light on Monday afternoon when the accused called the victim to the staff room and after locking the door, tried to molest her,” the officer said. The student started screaming and after hearing the girl’s cries, other students immediately rushed and informed their class teacher who in turn informed the school principal about this incident.
In the ensuing melee the accused escaped from the school. The school principal later approached the police and lodged a complaint against the teacher. After registering the case, police started their investigation and they arrested him on Tuesday afternoon from his residence.