Court Remands School Attendant Accused of Sexual Abuse to 14-Day Custody

A school attendant in Badlapur, Thane district, accused of sexually abusing two minor girls, has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody. The accused was arrested on August 17. Parents and citizens protested, leading to the formation of a special investigation team by the Maharashtra government.

A court in Thane district on Monday remanded a school attendant accused of sexually abusing two minor girls in Badlapur town to 14-day judicial custody, according to a police officer.

The accused, who worked at a private school, was brought before a magistrate's court in Kalyan under extensive security after his police custody ended.

The court ordered him to 14-day judicial custody and sent him to jail, the officer stated. In a related development, some school management members have also been implicated, another police officer revealed without further details.

The incident, which occurred earlier this month, led to the accused's arrest on August 17. According to a police complaint, he sexually abused two kindergarten girls in the school washroom.

The incident sparked a strong reaction, with parents and local citizens blocking railway tracks at Badlapur station for 10 hours and vandalizing a school building to demand strict punishment for the accused.

Following the protests, the Maharashtra government announced the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) led by senior IPS officer Arti Singh to investigate the incident. The protests left at least 25 police personnel injured due to stone-pelting incidents at the railway station and other parts of Badlapur.

(With inputs from agencies.)