School peon held for molesting 14-year-old student

The peon of a school has been arrested for molesting a 14-year-old mentally challenged girl, after luring her on the pretext of giving her some school work. The incident took place on October 19 around 10am at Kajuwadi Wagle Estate. The accused, Ravindra Santosh Sawant (28), was produced in the court on Tuesday.

Reportedly, on the day of the incident, the victim was going home after attending school when Sawant called her on the pretext of giving her some school work. He then took her to a neighbour's house and asked her to get some water from inside. When the girl went inside, the accused also entered and started touching her inappropriately.

When the girl screamed, Sawant gave her a Rs10 note and ran away from the spot. The girl than went home and narrated the incident to her parents, after which a case was filed with the Wagle Estate police station.

Confirming the incident, a police official said, "We have arrested the accused and are investigating the case further."

The case has been filed under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and under the Prevention Of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO).