Tridha Sexual Assault Case: Accused Trustee’s Bail Cancelled by HC

Accused of raping a 4-year old, Bombay HC quashes bail granted to founder of Tridha International school.

An anti-rape protest. Photo used for representational purpose.

(Photo: The Quint)

Accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old student, the founder and trustee of Tridha International School in Mumbai, Patrick Brillant, is expected to surrender before a special POCSO court tomorrow. This comes after the Bombay High Court quashed the bail granted to Brillant in November 2017 by the trial court.

Appealing that the bail granted to Patrick Brillant be cancelled, lawyer of the complainant argued that there is overwhelming evidence on record showing Brillant’s complicity in the crime. The lawyer also argued that since Patrick Brillant is the founder and trustee of the school where the alleged sexual assault took place, there is a possibility of him tampering and influencing witnesses. 

Parents of other children studying in the school, who are intervenors in the case, have also expressed their concerns over the well-being of their children as Brillant continues to be present in the school premises. In their application, parents stated that their children are traumatised by the incident.

While granting bail to Patrick Brillant in November last year, the POCSO court had said that there was no evidence to implicate him. However, in her order, Justice Revati Mohite-Dere said that the minor girl had identified Brillant from the several photos shown to her.

It appears that the survivor aged 3 years, has undergone physical and emotional trauma and it will take a couple of years to overcome the same. No reason whatsoever has come on record to even remotely suggest the possibility of a false implication. No parent would put their child through this traumatic experience. As noted above, the survivor is taking counselling sessions. In fact, having regard to the tender age of the survivor, the case is required to be expedited.  

Bombay High Court Observation

On 18 May, parents of a kindergarten student at Tridha International School filed an FIR alleging that their child was sexually assaulted by Patrick Brillant. They also claimed that the assault had been taking place for months and the child confided in them only after her mother spotted bruises on her body. In their statement, the student’s parents alleged the involvement of another teacher.