Principal acquitted of rape charge in Mumbai

A Sewree fast-track court on Tuesday acquitted the principal of a Kurla school of charges of trying to rape a Std V student.
Sessions judge CK Dhiren acquitted Ravindra Nair, principal of Kartika High School, for want of evidence.

Nair’s lawyer, Anjali Patil, argued that the school management wanted to remove him as a principal and therefore got a false case registered.

The prosecution argued that on December 8, 2009, around 10am, the victim went to the toilet. While she was there, Nair allegedly bolted the toilet door, gagged her, and molested her.

The girl, the prosecution said, bit his right hand and managed to escape. She went home and narrated the incident to her mother, who lodged a police complaint a day later.

The prosecution examined seven witnesses. However, the medical evidence against the accused was inconclusive.

Patil argued that apart from the evidence of the girl, there was no corroborative evidence.

Patil said that Nair was first booked for molestation but later charged with attempt to rape.

Watching advocate Mahendra Dhanawde said that they would appeal against the order in the Bombay high court. Dhanawde said that the victim and her mother’s deposition were without any contradictions. “One of the witnesses said that the toilet was right outside the principal’s cabin,” he said.