School bus driver arrested for alleged sexual assault of 3-year-old in Navi Mumbai

A 30-year-old private school bus driver has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl in Navi Mumbai, an official said on Friday.

The incident took place in the Kamothe area, according to police.

The accused was employed as the driver of a private bus that transported students from a local kindergarten and primary school.

Police said the incident occurred around 12.30 pm on Wednesday while the driver was dropping children at their homes. After the other students had left the bus, the three-year-old girl remained alone inside. The driver then allegedly sexually assaulted her, police said.

After reaching home, the child complained of abdominal pain and told her grandmother about the alleged abuse. Her family immediately informed the school management and approached the police.

Police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning the rape of a child below 12 years of age, along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 

The driver was subsequently arrested and produced before a court in Panvel on Thursday. The court remanded him to police custody until Saturday, the official said.  (with inputs from PTI)