A 40-year-old former serviceman has been arrested in Nagpur, Maharashtra, for allegedly sexually assaulting and harassing multiple minor students at a military residential school he operated. The police reported that these incidents occurred under the pretense of providing training to the students. The investigation is ongoing as authorities gather more details about the allegations and the circumstances surrounding them.
Girls said that they had reported the harassment to school teachers two months earlier, but no action was taken, according to investigating officer Parag Pote. A complaint was lodged by a girl student on Sunday alleging that girls were subjected to inappropriate physical touch, obscene acts and coerced sexual relations under the pretext of military preparation. As many as four girls came out against school director Rane, alleging sexual harassment.
Police officers said that Harishchandra Rane operates the Commando Army Police Career Academy and Sainik School at Kelwad in Saoner taluka, located approximately 40 km from Nagpur, providing coaching for Sainik School entrance examinations, the National Defence Academy (NDA), the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and state police services, as well as firefighting courses. The private military school, which follows Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and state board curricula for students from Class 6 to 12, provides a 400-metre running ground, digital classrooms and physical fitness modules.
Survivors were allegedly summoned to the school office late at night, the complainant said.
