Gujarat: School teacher arrested after minor student alleges sexual harassment

Ahmedabad, June 20 (IANS) A 49-year-old government school teacher has been arrested after a 13-year-old student alleged that he was sexually harassed inside a school computer room in Dholka town of Ahmedabad district, police said on Saturday.

According to the police complaint, the incident allegedly took place on June 17 between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. at Kumar School No. 4 in the Bamanpith area of Dholka.

Investigators said the accused, identified as Vijaykumar Solanki, allegedly called the student to the school’s computer room on the pretext of handing over a key.

“He lured the minor to the computer room on the pretext of giving him a key, pulled down his pants, exposed his private parts and attempted to grab him,” the complaint states.

The student managed to free himself and ran from the room.

The complainant further alleged that the teacher threatened the child with dire consequences, including death threats, if he disclosed the incident to anyone.

Following the complaint, Dholka Town Police launched an investigation and formed separate teams to gather evidence and verify the allegations.

Based on material collected during the inquiry, officers identified Solanki as the suspect and took him into custody.

Police registered a case on June 19 under Section 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to criminal intimidation, and Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Officials said further legal proceedings are underway and the investigation remains ongoing.

The case is the latest in a series of allegations involving educational institutions in Gujarat.

In July 2025, a school principal and hostel rector in Junagadh district were arrested after several minor male students accused them of sexual harassment, leading to the registration of offences under the POCSO Act.

In another case reported in April last year, police in Ahmedabad registered a POCSO case against a teacher at Karnavati International School after a four-year-old girl allegedly suffered injuries and her mother accused the teacher of abuse.

The school denied the allegations while police initiated an investigation.

Authorities have appealed to parents and school management to promptly report any suspected abuse involving children so that appropriate action can be taken under the law.

–IANS

mys/dan