MUMBAI: Four years after standing trial before a special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act court for molesting and sexually harassing 15-year-old students at a Wadala school, three teachers, all between the ages of 27 and 30 years, have been acquitted after the complainant did not support the prosecution's case. The court found that the FIR was registered after an agitation against the trio in the school. The complainant told the court that the agitation was only because of the teachers' appointment replacing old teachers, not for any misbehaviour or obscene acts on their part.

"From entire evidence of the prosecution it also revea led that as there was a protest against the transfer of regular teachers, students and their parents also supported the said protest and as a part of said protest the present complaint has been lodged against the accused. Most of the victims who are the witnesses stated that police had not personally inquired with them.In the present case, the prosecutrix (complainant) has not supported the prosecution's case, therefore, her FIR is not proved," the court said. The minor, one among ma ny to depose in the case, told the court in her cross-examination that she and all other class X students went to the police station at the behest of the principal and members of a political party .She told the court she signed the complaint copy too on the instructions of the principal.

The court said while three witnesses supported the prosecution's case, they did not corroborate each other's versions."On the contrary , prosecution witness number 9 (student) has not identified the accused in court and in the cross examination admits that to bring their old teachers back all the girls decided to approach the police," the court observed.

The court came down on the cops for not even procuring CCTV footage from the school, which it observed would have helped bring out the truth. "The investigating officer has not taken any effort to visit the spot and the classroom to verify whether CCTV cameras are installed in the school or the classroom," the court said.

The prosecution told the court the accused, who were not teaching class X students, would come to their class and wink at the girls, hit them and also abuse them, calling them shameless and arrogant. The prosecution further stated when they would pass between the benches they used to touch the girls inappropriately. Further, it submitted the accused used to pull the uniforms of the girls on the pretext of picking up pens they dropped on purpose. The prosecution said the matter was reported to the cops in 2013 after repeated acts of harassment. During one of the last instances, one of the accused in the presence of the two others who were circling the victim and laughing, went up to the complainant and said he liked her very much and wanted to meet her alone. The trio allegedly threatened the victim and said she would fail her exams if she revealed the incident to anyone.

The trio was arrested and subsequently granted bail. They told the court they were falsely implicated.

TIMES VIEW:

One would have never imagined being a teacher was so fraught with risk, at least in India, where they have been admired and revered. That three young teachers had to face atraumatic trial over four years on an allegation that fell apart in court, is a telling comment not only on the gullibility of the students and petty politics, but also on the working of our police force. Surely, if the cops had done due diligence, they would have realised there was no substance to the case and spared the accused the ignominy of a court case and its attendant anxiety.

