Mumbai, January 5: In a shocking incident, a coaching class teacher in Mumbai was arrested for molesting a student and sexually harassing her for over a year. Reports inform that the 42-year-old teacher was arrested by Malad Police on January 2 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The incident came to light after the minor student revealed that the teacher had molested and sexually harassed her when she was 15 years old and used to attend lectures in his classes. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the teenager, who is now 17-year-old, revealed about the horrific incident when she got to know that her younger sister may be sent to the same coaching class. Navi Mumbai: Man Gets Life Term for Raping 3-Year-Old Relative in Kamothe, Booked Under POCSO Act. 

The Malad Police informed that they arrested the accused on January 2 and has been sent to judicial custody by the court. The report further adds an FIR was filed against the accused on January 1 under section 354 (molestation) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 8 (sexual assault) and 12 (sexual harassment) of the POCSO Act. Death Penalty Approved by Cabinet in Cases of Aggravated Sexual Offences Under POCSO Act. 

According to the report, the complainant had joined the classes in Malad (West) in May 2016 to prepare for her secondary school certificate (SSC) exams. The girl used to sit on the first or second bench but the teacher always sent her on the back benched stating that she was academically weak and needed more attention. On the pretext of teaching her, the accused would inappropriately touch her chest and stomach and continued doing it regularly. The girl did not tell her family because she was afraid of being expelled from the class before her exams. POCSO Act Amendment: Centre Approves Ordinance With Death Penalty For Child Rapists.

After clearing her SSC exams in March 2017, the girl left the classes and thought she would leave the matter. However, at the end of December 2018, the victim heard her parents talking that they might send their younger daughter to the same classes. It was then when the girl described her ordeal and the trauma she faced. Her parents then took her to the police station to file a complaint against the teacher and the FIR was registered on January 1.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 05, 2019 01:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).