The Madras High Court Thursday took serious view of bail granted by a lower court to two people arrested in connection with alleged sexual harassment of some kindergarten students by several people.
The court also directed the additional public prosecutor to take steps for cancelling it.
Justice Anand Venkatesh issued the interim order during the hearing of a petition from K Jagan Babu seeking a CB-CID or a SIT (special investigation team) probe into the alleged sexual harassment of the students, both boys and girls, by an attendant of their private school bus and others.
The incident came to light in July.
The Mahila Court judge had recently granted bail to the accused, including a woman also an attendant of the bus.
The counsel for the petitioner, whose four-year-old son was a victim, submitted that not only the male bus attendant but several people were involved in the assault of his son and some other students.
Also Read
He said the boy had stated he was sexually assaulted by various people, including a "white skinned" and on one occasion when he saw some foreign nationals, he was frightened and started crying.
Taking note of the submissions, Justice Venkatesh observed that the statement of the child itself was adequate for conviction.
The petitioner also submitted that a complaint under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) was lodged with police on July 25 last.
He said the offence came to light when he saw a change in his son's behaviour and enquired with him. The child then said there was another boy who had also been a victim of the alleged harassment.
Later he came to know that some other boys and girls were also subjected to sexual assault by various people.
He alleged that at the behest of the school, attempts were made to influence him to withdraw his police complaint and he was allegedly threatened by rowdy elements.
The petitioner further said even when the children were admitted for a medical check, a threat issued to the hospital not to pursue the case.
Contending that the investigation officer failed to follow the provisions of the POCSO Act in the case, the petitioner sought for the transfer of investigation to the CB-CID or the SIT.
Justice Venkatesh directed the additional public prosecutor to take steps for cancellation of the bail granted to the two accused and ordered the Investigation Officer, who was present in the court, to file a status report, giving details of the probe.
He also directed the Special Judge of Mahila Court, who granted the bail recently, to submit a report specifying the stand taken by the prosecution during the hearing of the petitions by the accused for the relief.
The judge than posted the matter to January 3 next for further hearing.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content