Updated: February 16, 2014 04:57 IST
School bus driver held on molestation charge
STAFF REPORTER
A 25-year-old school bus driver was arrested by the Mumbai Police on charges of molesting a nursery student whom he used to ferry to school.
The accused, identified as Shahbaz Sheikh, has been booked on charges of molestation and under various sections of the new constituted Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act.
He has been remanded to police custody till February 28.
According to the police, the incident came to light after the toddler refused to go to school. She confided in her mother when she coaxed her. She told her mother that Sheikh touched her inappropriately on many occasions between February 4 and February 10, and that if she continued travelling in the bus he would repeat it.
The girl then underwent medical test at the State-run JJ hospital in South Mumbai. The report opined that she was molested.
With a spate of such incidents being reported in Mumbai, having a woman attendant on a school bus is mandatory till the last kid is dropped back home.
“We are inquiring if the attendant was employed or not. Necessary action will be taken against the operator of the vehicle if there was any such negligence,” Additional Commissioner of Police, South Mumbai, Krishna Prakash told The Hindu.
According to the police there was not any formal agreement between the school and the bus operator.
