22 July,2026 09:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The prosecution outlined a disturbing pattern of abuse that started on July 29, 2022, during the school’s Annual Day function. Representational Pic/File
A former peon of a South Mumbaii school was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Mumbai court in connection with the 2022 school rape case, reported the PTI.
He was accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl student.
A special court, operating under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, convicted the accused on Wednesday based on the survivor's testimony.
Judge S V Sahare of the special court emphasised that a victim's testimony, if deemed confident and credible, can form the basis of a conviction even without corroborating evidence, according to the PTI.
The court noted that in the case, the victim's account was reportedly consistent and aligns with medical findings.
The prosecution outlined a disturbing pattern of abuse that started on July 29, 2022, during the school's Annual Day function.
The peon, employed at a South Mumbai school, initially approached the then Class 10 student backstage, hugged and kissed her. He silenced her by threatening to humiliate her and ruin her reputation among her friends if she told anyone about his acts, as per the PTI.
The abuse escalated on August 24, 2022, when he forced her into a staff toilet. There, he again threatened to stop her education and ruin her reputation before sexually assaulting her.
The ordeal only came to light about a month later when the girl's mother found her being visibly distressed at home.
While the girl first claimed to have had a row with a friend, her mother became suspicious and began to investigate the reason behind her child being distressed. She later discovered the truth after examining her daughter's mobile phone and finding chats with the accused, the news agency reported.
The mother reported the situation to the school principal, leading to the registration of a formal police complaint at the Gamdevi Police Station in South Mumbai. This subsequent action resulted in the arrest and ultimate conviction of the former school peon, bringing a sense of justice to the victim and her family, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
