The principal of a prominent school was arrested for making obscene gestures and using sexually-coloured language with a girl student. Kumar Thakur, principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Hebbal, allegedly harassed a 17-year-old Class XII girl late in December. She mustered the courage to complain to the police this week. Thakur was arrested on Tuesday by the Sadashivanagar police, and within a day, he was out on bail.



On December 26, 2016, Thakur sent word through the physics teacher and summoned the student to his chamber. He began by asking her about her mother's health, and sought to know why she had not been doing well in her exams. He then started explaining the process of intercourse, and what happens between a man and woman, she has said in her complaint.



The principal asked if she had a boyfriend, to which she replied, “no”. He advised her to find one, remarking, “and then you will score first-class marks”. Thakur’s talk then veered to Sunny Leone, the porn star who switched careers to become a Bollywood actress. He described her success in glowing terms, the student has said. Sex talk is useful for relaxation, he purportedly said, assuring the girl of his “personal, social, and financial support.”



Thakur said the student should meet him frequently, and handed her a piece of chocolate. At 8.10 pm, he let her go, according to the complaint. The corridor had no lights and she left with her brother, who had been waiting outside. The next day, she spoke about the incident to her friends, the complaint says. On January 25, the child helpline 1098 received a call about how girl students at Kendriya Vidyalaya were being harassed by their principal.



The police formed a team, including women officers and a POCSO coordinator, and went to the school. The team reported that the principal was facing general allegations. The experts then counselled the students, saying they would have to specify an incident to register a complaint. A student then came up with a detailed complaint against Thakur. “We detained the accused and conducted a detailed inquiry. There was no physical sexual act, but inappropriate words and gestures were used when he was alone with victim in his cabin,” said Praveen Sood, city police commissioner. Principal Kumar Thakur was arrested on Tuesday, but was out on bail on Wednesday.



“We were surprised to learn he came out so soon in a POCSO case,” said Chandragupta, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Division. POCSO is short for the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act, a law with stringent provisions.

