School Officials Seek Bail in Badlapur Assault Case

The chairman and secretary of a school in Badlapur are seeking pre-arrest bail from the Bombay High Court after a male attendant was arrested for sexually assaulting two girls. They are charged under the POCSO Act for not reporting the incident and negligence. The hearing is set for October 1.

The chairman and secretary of a school in Badlapur, where a male attendant sexually assaulted two young girls, have petitioned the Bombay High Court for pre-arrest bail.

A case has been filed against them under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for failing to promptly report the incident to the authorities and for negligence.

After being denied anticipatory bail by a special court, the duo sought relief from the high court. A single bench of Justice R N Laddha heard their pleas on Monday and scheduled the next hearing for October 1.

Last month, two girls, aged four and five, were sexually assaulted by a male attendant inside the school's washroom. The accused has since been apprehended and the state government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) due to public outrage over initial police investigation lapses.

Despite the arrest of the male attendant, the school's chairman and secretary remain at large. The high court has taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of the case and is overseeing the ongoing investigation.

(With inputs from agencies.)