Raped & Pregnant: How a Navi Mumbai School Let Down a 13-Year-Old

The school allegedly offered money to the girl’s father to withdraw the case.

A candle light march is held for a rape survivor. Photo used for representational purposes. (Photo: Twitter/@TuslidasBhoite)

The principal of a school in Navi Mumbai’s Nerul was suspended by the management after parents held a five-hour protest over the lack of action by it in the alleged rape of a teenaged student by a teacher.

The 13-year-old student of the Mahatma Gandhi Mission School was allegedly raped repeatedly by a teacher, Harishankar Shukla. The matter came to light when the girl complained of a stomach ache. Medical tastes revealed that the girl had been repeatedly raped and was pregnant. A case was registered on 29 September.

The school, however, kept the teacher on, despite receiving 18 complaints against him of lewd behaviour from parents, reported Mumbai Mirror.

After the complaint was filed in September, the teacher – who is now absconding – was neither arrested by the police, nor did the school take any action.

What’s worse, the parents also alleged that Shukla had come to the school last Monday, but the principal did not inform the police.

The father of the victim, in the meantime, said that the school management offered him any amount between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore to withdraw the case.

Parents alleged that Shukla had a pattern of indulging in indecent behaviour. A mother of a Class X student, Chetna Singhvi, told The Hindu that her daughter, as head girl, had been approached by students who complained that Shukla showed them “vulgar images” on Facebook.

A group of parents approached the principal several times and complained about Shukla’s behaviour. But she paid no heed. She often made parents wait for hours and later refused to meet them. Students are now embarrassed to admit that they study in MGM School.

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Another parent, Damini Patil, told Mumbai Mirror:

We have been complaining against this teacher for a long time. The principal heard us out but never reported him to the police.

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The investigating officer, Inspector More, was suspended on Monday on account of serious lapses in the investigation.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Prashant Khaire said the school principal, Savita Gulati, has also been detained. Khaire added:

The probe has revealed that she was aware of Shukla’s behaviour and yet protected him. We will arrest her.

Watch: This Is How Police Fail Rape Survivors in India

(With inputs from Mumbai Mirror and The Hindu)