Mumbai woman teacher accused of sexually assaulting teen boy in five-star hotels gets bail in Pocso case

MUMBAI: A special Pocso court on Tuesday granted bail to a 40-year-old woman teacher accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male pupil at the school where she was formerly employed. A copy of the detailed order is yet to be made available. The woman, a mother of two, was arrested last month.Seeking bail, the woman's defence lawyers, Neeraj Yadav and Deepa Punjani, submitted that the case against her is "false and fabricated". They also submitted that custodial interrogation was not required. It was further argued that the woman was neither a flight risk nor were there any complaints of criminal intimidation. The lawyers further said that she was a mother of two minor children and resigned from the school in April 2024.Imposing conditions on the release, the judge said that the accused must submit proof of her permanent and temporary residence, such as an Aadhaar card or Election card, if available. She must also provide the addresses and contact details of two known individuals residing in Mumbai. The judge further said that the accused must not engage in any other criminal activity and is strictly prohibited from tampering with prosecution evidence.The accused must not meet, contact, or threaten the victim in any manner. She is also forbidden from directly or indirectly inducing, threatening, or promising anything to any witness or the victim. The court also said that the accused must attend every court date for the trial and cannot leave the jurisdiction of Mumbai without the court's permission. It was also observed that a breach of any of these conditions will result in the immediate cancellation of bail.Police have booked the teacher and a female friend who contacted the boy on her behalf when he started distancing himself from her under multiple sections of Pocso Act, 2012. It was alleged that Std 11 student was introduced to the teacher during the school's extracurricular activities, including dance groups she organised in Dec 2023. Over time, she allegedly gained his trust and began isolating him from his peers. She reportedly took him in her car to isolated locations and sexually assaulted him. Police have seized the car. She also took him to five-star hotels, where more of the alleged abuse occurred, police said.