Cops invoke stricter charges against dance teacher

NAGPUR: The FIR registered against choreographer Manish Raut and principal Anurag Pandey of Suyash Convent was modified by Hudkeshwar police on Friday, adding more stringent charges under the Juvenile Justice (care and protection of children) Act, 2015. The cops have added section 75 of the act, which provides for maximum punishment of 10 years and fine up to Rs5 lakh. The cops had earlier invoked section 23 of the older JJ Act, which only prescribes imprisonment up to six months.Meanwhile, both Raut and Pandey were released on bail by the court on Friday.
DCP, Zone-IV, G Shridhar said the education department has been informed about the incident and serious charges slapped on the principal and dance teacher. “The education department would now decide their course of action,” he said.
The cops had first charged Raut under section 324 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for causing hurt with an aluminium rod while thrashing 17 girl students of Suyash Convent at Dighori. The girls, preparing for a Rajasthani folk dance for a school cultural event later this month, were beaten and threatened by Raut for goofing up on their steps. After a few girls developed swelling and pain, irate parents started clamouring for action.
Five students also had to be admitted to a private hospital. Three of them were discharged on Friday. Dr Nilesh Changle, who treated the girls, said there were no deep injuries, and the sustained swelling and pain is expected to subside.
Hudkeshwar police had initially rounded up Raut and charged him with assault. Unsatisfied with the action, the parents had gheraoed the school, demanding action against Pandey too for ignoring information that girl students were being subjected to cruelty. After the parents started protesting, section 23 of JJ Act was invoked and Pandey taken into custody. However, both Pandey and Raut walked away with bail from the court on Friday.
Senior PI Sunil Jhaware of Hudkeshwar police station admitted that invoking section 23 was a mistake since the amended law should have been taken into consideration. “Section 75 was added to the FIR after we realized the mistake. The court too has been informed about the charges made in the FIR,” he said. The PI assured to send the charge sheet within a week for speedy justice.
District child protection officer Mustaque Pathan, who visited the police station along with NGO Childline’s city coordinator Archana Pali Basu and her team, is learnt to have pointed out the lacuna in the FIR. “Had the cops not made the mistake, the accused would not have managed to walk away with bail easily,” said Pathan.