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MUMBAI: A 45-year-old woman has been charged by the police of outraging the modesty of a woman principal of a south Mumbai school on her complaint. The 39-year-old principal has accused the woman of stalking her and sending messages expressing her love.

The accused, a businesswoman from Mohammed Ali Road, would drop her two nephews to the school when she noticed the principal. In 2013, when the principal accompanied secondary students on a picnic to Lonavala, she followed the school bus in a private taxi, took photographs of the principal and allegedly touched her inappropriately. She told her in the presence of others that she loved her.

‘She kept texting, calling principal despite warning’

Later, the accused began to send her food and gifts through couriers and delivery boys at home and school, said the police. When she returned her food, the accused lost her temper. She created a ruckus and once, broke a tea cup in the school, prompting it to complain to the police in 2015. The L T Marg police registered a noncognizable (NC) offence, summoned the accused and issued a warning.

That year on Christmas Eve, the accused again sent the principal two boxes of cake and ice-cream. When the school security refused her entry, she forced her way in, said the police.

At the school function, she shot the principal’s pictures and pasted them on the notice board. At this, the school lodged another NC complaint.

The accused, though, continued sending the principal text messages expressing her affection. She even called her from different telephone numbers, causing mental harassment, says the chargesheet.

In 2016, the accused again trailed the school bus as the principal and students headed to Goa for the annual picnic. This time, the principal complained at Azad Maidan police station, and the police registered an FIR.

The 64th metropolitan magistrate court asked the public prosecutor to file a compliance report on Tuesday before commencement of trial.

The Azad Maidan police informed the court they had sought legal opinion before filing a 50-page chargesheet. An officer said they have strong evidence and have recorded statements of eyewitnesses, including taxi drivers, courier boys, the mobile service provider and school staff.

