Mumbai: School Bus Driver Arrested for Molesting Minor Student; Principal Also Booked

The Sion Police on Monday arrested a school bus driver for allegedly molesting a minor girl student over the past eight months. The accused had been misbehaving with the victim during school bus rides. Despite complaints, the school principal did not take any action against the driver, leading to a case being registered against him as well.

The accused had been harassing the minor repeatedly. While returning home from school, he would trouble her under the pretext of playing. When the girl sat at the back of the bus, the driver would call her to sit beside him near the driver’s seat. In some instances, when the victim’s brother was also in the bus, the accused would instruct him to look outside through the window, taking advantage of the situation to misbehave with the girl. Due to continuous harassment, the victim was terrified and hesitant to go to school.

The matter came to light when the girl’s family noticed her fear and inquired about the issue. On March 3, the victim’s family approached the school principal and reported the driver’s misconduct. However, no action was taken by the school authorities. Following this, the girl’s mother filed a complaint with Sion Police on Monday.

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under sections of molestation and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the school bus driver and the principal. A police team arrested the accused driver from the Sion Koliwada area. Meanwhile, the police also issued a notice to the school principal under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for failing to take action against the accused driver despite complaints.