Two underage girls sexually abused on the school bus, accused arrested

The accused will be produced before the court for police custody on October 4. Image for representation. | Photo credit: The Hindu

In another sexual assault case after Badlapur, two minor girls were allegedly attacked in a school bus in Pune district of Maharashtra, following which the Wanvadi police arrested the accused driver of the school bus on Thursday (October 3, 2024).

Police booked the accused identified as Sanjay Jetting Reddy (45) under Section 64, 65(2) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.

The incident took place on Monday (September 30, 2024) in the pick-and-drop school bus of a private school run by Sanjay. The parents of the survivors lodged a complaint with the Wanvadi police station on October 2.

According to police, the defendant approached the survivors and found them alone in the van. He parked the van in a secluded place, started touching her private parts and later dumped her home, the girls told their parents.

In conversation with The HinduR Raja, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Zone 5), said, “We are probing the case from all angles, we are in touch with the school on the matter, possibility of multiple incidents, presence of a female supervisor and more.”

DCP R Raja said that detailed statements of the survivors and their families will be recorded in the presence of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The accused will be produced before the court for police custody on October 4.

Maharashtra Legislative Council Vice Chairman Neelam Gorhe gave instructions to the Transport Commissioner for strict implementation of safety measures. She mentioned conducting criminal background checks on drivers and attendants, ensuring that each vehicle is attended by a female attendant to avoid overloading of vehicles, adhering to speed limits and medical examinations of drivers.

The incident sparked widespread public outrage in Pune, with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) city president Prashant Jagtap demanding the death penalty for the accused. “Police have taken action but even after the Badlapur cases, such crimes continue to occur, which means the accused think they can escape easily. I have written a letter to the joint commissioner requesting him to book the death department in the FIR,” Mr. Jagtap said.