A teacher from a prominent Mumbai school has been arrested under the POCSO Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student over the course of a year

A 40-year-old English teacher at one of Mumbai’s most prestigious schools has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male student over the span of a year. The accused, who is married and has children, has been remanded to police custody.

According to investigators, the teacher first developed an inappropriate interest in the Class 11 student during preparations for the school’s annual function in December 2023. The complaint states that she made her first sexual advance in January 2024.

When the student began distancing himself, the teacher allegedly enlisted the help of a female friend – unaffiliated with the school – to persuade him. “She told the boy that he and the teacher were ‘made for each other’ and that such relationships were becoming common,” said a police officer. Following this call, the student agreed to meet the teacher.

During that meeting, the teacher allegedly picked up the boy in her car, drove him to a secluded area, forcibly undressed him, and sexually assaulted him. When the boy later experienced acute anxiety, she reportedly gave him anti-anxiety medication. The vehicle used has since been seized by police.

Subsequently, the teacher began taking the student to several 5-star luxury hotels in South Mumbai and near the airport for repeated sexual encounters. Police allege that she would often ply him with alcohol during these meetings.

The arrest has sent shockwaves through the school community, which boasts a number of prominent alumni.

Over time, the student’s behaviour changed noticeably, prompting concern from his family. When they questioned him, he disclosed the alleged abuse. However, with only a few months left before his board exams, the family initially decided against taking legal action, hoping the teacher would stop contacting him once he graduated.

Earlier this year, after passing his exams and leaving school, the boy reportedly sank into depression. Matters escalated when the teacher allegedly attempted to reach out to him again through a member of the family’s domestic staff. At that point, the family approached the police.

“We have registered a case under Sections 4 (penetrative sexual assault), 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault), and 17 (abetment) of the POCSO Act, along with applicable sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice Act,” a police officer confirmed.

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