4 min readMumbaiUpdated: Feb 27, 2026 10:18 PM IST
A 12-year-old student on her way home from school was molested by a driver of a private bus in Badlapur (west). The bus driver has been arrested under charges of several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with the Protection Of Children From Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). He was produced in court on Thursday and remanded to one day police custody for further investigation.
The arrested accused is a resident of Neral and operates a private bus ferrying students from multiple schools and dropping them back home. “The bus is owned by another person and it does not belong to the school. There was no CCTV camera and no woman attendant inside the bus as is mandatory. The school authorities have been informed to have a female attendant inside the bus to ensure the safety of the school children,” said a senior officer.
According to police, the victim is a class sixth student of a private school. The incident occurred around 11:30 when she was returning home in the bus. The suspect called the victim near him inside the bus and allegedly touched her inappropriately. The victim screamed for help and managed to escape. She and the three other students got off the bus and alerted their parents. The police were informed about the incident, said a senior officer.
A police team from Badlapur (west) police station visited the spot and recorded the statement of the victim. The suspect was taken into custody within an hour. The FIR was registered under the charges of sections 74 (using criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty), 75 ( sexual harassment by a man, covering unwelcome physical contact, sexual favors, pornography, and colored remarks), 79 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the BNS along with 8 and 12 of the POCSO act.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Gore (zone 4) has called to meet principals of 120 schools in Badlapur, where instructions on children’s safety will be provided. All school buses operated by these schools, including those hired from private operators, should have an attendant, the bus drivers will have to provide character certificates and other documents which will be the responsibility of the school authorities alone.
“We will serve a notice to all schools instructing them to verify backgrounds of the drivers before hiring them,” said Gore. A letter was written to the RTO in connection with the case of 12-year-old girl to cancel the licence of the driver as well as passing of the school van, added Gore.
The RTO has been roped in to inspect each and every school bus plying there and will verify documents and if norms are being followed. Accordingly, action will be taken against bus operators including suspensions of driving licences, added Gore.
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Deputy Director of Education Rajesh Kankal said a detailed report has been sought from the local Education Officer in Badlapur regarding the incident. “The government has repeatedly issued comprehensive guidelines to ensure student safety in schools. The inquiry will verify whether all prescribed safety measures were implemented by the institution. If any violations are found, action will be taken in accordance with the rules,” he said.
In August 2024, Badlapur witnessed large-scale protests after two minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted inside a private school in the town. The incident sparked widespread outrage, with parents and residents blocking railway tracks and roads, demanding swift action against the accused and stricter safety measures in schools.
