Leading coaching center, 3 brothers for sexual harassment of a teenage student

Three brothers have been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl between 2022 and 2023 at a coaching center they ran in south Mumbai. While the two siblings, aged 25 and 24, were held on Saturday, the third accused, 27, was nabbed on Sunday when he landed in Mumbai after a family trip to Manali. A police team had traveled to the hill town in pursuit but arrested him after he landed at the Mumbai airport.

The shocking crime came to light during the victim’s counseling session at the Child Development Centre, an NGO. Narrating her ordeal, she revealed how the trio allegedly sexually abused her and forced her to turn up early and stay late at the coaching center.

According to LT Marg police, the teenager joined the coaching center in 2022 after moving in with her mother following her parents’ divorce. She also accepted admission to a new school, but remained reserved and had little contact with teachers or classmates. Initially, her mother believed that the child might be under duress due to the protracted divorce dispute. However, she later took her to the NGO for counseling in January 2023.

During the sessions, the girl revealed the incidents of sexual harassment in her coaching class, the FIR said. The mother then suddenly stopped her counseling and prompted the NGO to contact her. Despite several attempts, there was no response. Finally, the Child Development Center lodged a complaint at NM Joshi police station on September 21. Since the coaching center fell under the jurisdiction of LT Marg police station, the case was transferred there.

“After registering the FIR, the statements of the girl and her mother were recorded, which led to the arrest of the brothers. The eldest brother was in Kullu Manali and a team was working to find him,” a senior police officer told Free Press Journal. A team went to Kullu Manali and tracked the accused and finally nabbed him near the airport premises, the police officer added.

The trio taught students in grades 7 to 12 at the coaching center, including 35 to 40 girls. The police are trying to find out whether they sexually abused others. A case has been registered against her for molestation, rape, unnatural sex and criminal intimidation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act.