MUMBAI: The schoolteacher, who eloped with her 16-year-old student, was released on bail on Saturday evening.

"The teacher says she will marry the boy after he turns 18. Their parents have been told to handle the issue carefully as both of them are very disturbed," said a police officer.

The teacher, Anjali Singh (23), has been charged with kidnapping, wrongful confinement and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The case dates back to January 25 when the boy's father lodged a complaint with the Vakola police, alleging that his son had been kidnapped by his schoolteacher. Singh started living with the boy in Bangalore and was arrested by the city crime branch on Friday.

The two worked in different malls for a living and wanted to settle down in Bangalore for few years, the police said. "Singh told us that she loved the boy and had eloped as society would not approve of their relationship".

Moreover, the boy was not in a position to convince his parents about his willingness to marry her," the officer added. After leaving Mumbai, the two sold their cellphones and discarded the SIM cards so that their whereabouts would remain unknown.

Last week, the boy logged into his Facebook account. The internet protocol address showed his location as Whitefield in Bangalore. A team then zeroed in on a Bangalore cyber cafe the couple used to visit.

"When the police team showed photos of the two to the cyber cafe owner, he identified them. The cops waited for them and arrested them after they came there again," said a police officer.

An officer stated the boy was missing his father. He contacted one of his friends from Bangalore to get details of his father and it helped the police to know his whereabouts. "They never anticipated that the police will catch them" said the officer. He further added that Singh had not harmed the boy and both of them told the police that they went together willingly.

The Vakola police had booked Singh for kidnapping, wrongful confinement and protection of children from sexual offences (POCSO) act as the boy was minor.

The boy is a student of Reverand CF Andrews school in Prabhat Colony in Santa Cruz (E).

Singh was his English teacher .

The boy's friends were aware about his affair with Singh. On the day of the 'kidnapping' incident, the boy told one of his friend that he was going along with Singh before they disappeared. They first stay in Goa for a week and then shifted to Bangalore from where the police arrested them last week.

