Gujarat: School principal held for molesting students’ mother

Ahmedabad: A 28-year-old mother from Naroda was allegedly molested by an in-charge principal when she went to collect leaving certificates for her two children. The accused was arrested by Vatva GIDC police on Friday. The complaint was registered under BNS Sections 75(2) (sexual harassment) and 198 (public servant disobeying law with intent to cause injury to any person) against the principal of a residential primary school in Kheda district.P C Desai, in-charge police inspector at Vatva GIDC, confirmed the arrest based on the mother's complaint. The woman, originally from Kheda district, has two sons studying in Class 3 and 8. According to the complaint, the woman had not sent her two sons to the school during the Covid period. Last year, she contacted this particular school in Kheda, where the accused worked as principal-in-charge and enrolled the children in Class 3 and 8. She stayed in touch with the principal by phone to discuss their studies. In her complaint, she alleged that the food and living conditions at the residential school were not up to the mark, causing her children to frequently return home. She subsequently decided against sending them back and requested their leaving certificates. Despite repeated phone calls and WhatsApp messages, the principal allegedly did not issue the documents. Instead, he insisted she meet him alone three times to collect the leaving certificates, according to the complaint. On Wednesday, the principal informed her he was bringing the certificates to Ahmedabad. Suspecting ill intentions, the woman informed her nephew about the situation and asked him to closely follow her when she went to meet the principal. On Friday, around noon, the principal met her near Hathijan Circle and suggested they sit and talk at a hotel in the Radhe Complex area. He then took her to a room in the hotel, the complainant stated. The woman alleged that inside the room, he held her hand and molested her. Her nephew and an acquaintance reached the hotel room and assaulted the principal. The woman immediately called police, went to the police station, and gave a detailed statement, following which an offence was registered. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Valentine's day wishes, messages and quotes !