Why Was a Private School Teacher in TN Arrested Under the POCSO Act?
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Key Takeaways
Chennai, Feb 19 (NationPress) A 29-year-old educator working at a private school in Tamil Nadu's Palayamkottai has been taken into custody for allegedly sexually harassing minor female students. The individual, known as Jobin Solomon, had been part of the teaching staff for the last three years.
Solomon taught mathematics to students in Classes 9, 10, and 11.
The situation came to light after complaints regarding his purportedly inappropriate behavior towards girl students both in and out of the classroom.
Police sources disclosed that multiple students had reported the teacher's unacceptable conduct during lessons.
The complaints suggested that his actions made the students feel uncomfortable over an extended period.
Furthermore, it was claimed that he managed to obtain the phone numbers of girl students via an official academic WhatsApp group designed for school communications.
Investigators noted that the accused allegedly used these contact details to send inappropriate messages to students, especially during late-night hours.
The nature of these messages sparked significant concern among parents and school administrators once the issue was brought to light.
After conducting an initial internal investigation, the school management filed a formal complaint at the All Women Police Station in Palayamkottai.
In response to the complaint, the police launched an inquiry and took statements from students and relevant witnesses.
Authorities indicated that the alleged harassment had been taking place for over three months.
Based on the evidence collected, a case was filed against Solomon under the applicable sections of the POCSO Act, which addresses sexual offenses against minors.
He was subsequently arrested and presented before a judicial magistrate.
The court ordered his remand into judicial custody pending further investigation.
Police officials emphasized that violations under the POCSO Act are treated with the utmost seriousness and urged parents and students to report any inappropriate behavior without hesitation.
Ongoing investigations aim to uncover the full scope of the allegations and ascertain whether there are additional victims involved.