Mumbai Court Grants Bail to Female Teacher Accused of Sexually Assaulting 16-Year-Old Student

Mumbai: A special court granted bail to a 40-year-old female school teacher on July 22, 2025, accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male student. The teacher, arrested on June 28, 2025, faced charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the Juvenile Justice Act for alleged assaults from January 2024 to February 2025.

Court’s Reasoning for Bail in POCSO Case

Special Judge Sabina Malik ordered the teacher’s release on a ₹50,000 personal bond with financially secure sureties, citing the consensual nature of the relationship and the teacher’s resignation in April 2024, which diluted the student-teacher dynamic. The court noted the trial’s delayed commencement and her responsibilities as a mother of 11-year-old twins, one with a respiratory condition, as grounds for bail.

Teacher’s Defense Against Assault Allegations

The teacher denied the allegations, claiming the boy’s mother, disapproving of their relationship, fabricated the case. She presented handwritten notes and messages where the boy called her his “wife” and expressed affection, including a desire to tattoo her name. Her lawyers, Neeraj Yadav and Deepa Punjani, argued these exchanges showed no force or intimidation and highlighted her cooperation with investigators and lack of criminal record.

Police Claims and FIR Details

Police alleged the teacher lured the student to five-star hotels and her car, providing him with alcohol and anxiety medication before the assaults. The FIR claimed she used a female colleague to persuade him to meet her. The teacher countered that she had resigned to distance herself from the boy’s advances and only met him with his mother’s permission, though he continued contacting her.

Strict Bail Conditions Imposed

The court imposed strict bail conditions: the teacher must furnish a ₹50,000 bond with sureties, submit address proof, an Aadhaar or election card, and contact details of two Mumbai residents. She is barred from contacting the student, threatening witnesses, tampering with evidence, leaving Mumbai without permission, or failing to attend all trial hearings, with any breach risking bail cancellation.

Opposition to Bail and Family’s Response

The prosecution and the boy’s family opposed bail, citing trauma and evidence tampering risks. Sources close to the family called the decision “a grave injustice” and plan to challenge it. The court imposed these conditions to address such concerns.

Allegations of Improper Arrest Procedures

The teacher also alleged improper arrest procedures, stating police provided arrest grounds in Marathi, which she did not understand, and required her to sign documents without translation, a factor the court considered under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

(Rh/Eth/PB/MSM/)