Govt school teacher in Pune molests minor students
Accused of molesting at least 12 minor girls, a government school teacher in Pune has been sent to three-day police custody till Saturday. Commenting on the incident, investigating officer Chitra Choudhary on Friday said the accused has been booked under various sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSCO) Act and the Indian Penal Code.
Forty-two-year-old Vikram Shankar Potdar was arrested following a complaint and an internal probe, she said.
"Following a complaint and an internal probe, the accused was arrested on charges of molesting 12 girls for around six months at the Zilla Parishad Girls School No.2 in Lohegaon," Choudhary said.
The incidents of molestation mostly occurred during lunch breaks and continued for long.
Potdar had also allegedly threatened the victims, all aged 12 years of age, studying in Class 6.
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According to the police, the girls complained that he used to "touch them inappropriately" and warned them against informing anyone.
However, a few months ago, one of the victims gathered courage and confided her plight to the Education Officer of Haveli, Nilima M Mehetre.
Taking serious note, a committee was formed to probe the matter which found credence to the charges against Potdar and the police complaint was registered on Wednesday.
