Mumbai Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault of Student

A 40-year-old female teacher employed at a well-known Indian school has been apprehended on allegations of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male student on multiple occasions. The teacher, an English instructor in Mumbai, is accused of orchestrating the abuse.

The accusations detail a pattern of behavior where the teacher allegedly took the student to upscale hotels. She is accused of providing him with alcohol and anti-anxiety medication before the assaults occurred.

According to police reports, the abuse began in January 2024, following the teacher's attraction to the boy during dance group meetings in late 2023. She is alleged to have used a female friend to lure the boy into meetings at secluded locations and luxury hotels, where the sexual assaults took place. The boy reportedly suffered from severe anxiety as a result of the abuse and was given anti-anxiety pills by the teacher.

The minor's parents noticed a change in his behavior and encouraged him to disclose the abuse. Initially, they hesitated to take action due to the boy's upcoming class 10 exams. However, after the teacher attempted to contact him again after he had left the school, the parents decided to report the matter to the Mumbai police.

The teacher was arrested under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, specifically for aggravated sexual assault. During the investigation, the teacher reportedly confessed to the crime and showed the police the locations where the assaults occurred. Police have gathered CCTV footage from some of these locations, confirming the presence of both the accused and the boy.

Following her arrest, the teacher was initially remanded in police custody for four days. She subsequently underwent a psychiatric evaluation at a local government hospital. The police sought an extension of her custody, but the court denied the request, and she was instead placed in judicial custody for 14 days.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act safeguards children from sexual abuse, regardless of their gender. The penalties for penetrative sexual assault under this act include a minimum of seven years in prison, up to life imprisonment, and a fine.

The school where the teacher was employed expressed shock and stated its full cooperation with the police investigation. The school's spokesperson emphasized their zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual offenses against children. The accused teacher had resigned from the school in 2024, reportedly after the management expressed dissatisfaction with her performance. Police are planning to visit the school to further investigate the circumstances surrounding her resignation.