20 July,2026 09:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The Bombay HC bench ordered that the probe be transferred to the state CID and asked the additional director general of police of the agency to look into the matter personally. FILE PIC
The Bombay High Court (HC) slammed the police for their "shoddy" probe into the 2025 sexual assault of a minor girl by the headmaster and teacher of an ashram school in Kolhapur. The Kolhapur circuit bench also transferred the investigation of the case to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID), news agency PTI reported.
The HC bench, comprising Justices Vrushali Joshi and Sandesh Patil, stated that it was "flabbergasted" by the superintendent of police's claim that no female IPS officer was available, slamming the investigating team's "lackadaisical approach" and complete ignorance of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
A copy of the order passed on July 13 was made available on Monday. The survivor's parents had moved the court seeking that the probe be transferred to an independent agency, alleging improper police investigation.
According to the complaint, the headmaster and a teacher of the ashram school had inappropriately touched and physically assaulted the minor.
The accused duo was booked under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act.
The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the manner in which the police had maintained the case diary, noting that it consisted of just loose sheets of paper.
The bench, while adding that there are two FIRs lodged against the accused persons, noted, "We are shocked by the lackadaisical approach and total ignorance of the investigating officer about the provisions of law, especially the POCSO Act."
Moreover, the court summoned the SP, who stated that a show-cause notice had been issued to the investigating officer and that the probe would now be handed over to a senior woman police inspector.
He further told the court that no female police officers of the IPS rank were available to carry out the investigation.
The court highlighted, "This is quite alarming. The answer of the Superintendent of Police has left us flabbergasted," as per PTI.
Noting that the investigation in the case had been carried out in a "shoddy manner," the court expressed apprehension about the nature and quality of the future probe.
Holding that the crime was of a heinous nature, the bench added, "We are satisfied that this is a fit case for the court to exercise its powers for doing complete justice."
The court further ordered the probe to be transferred to the state CID and asked the additional director general of police of the agency to look into the matter personally.
(With inputs from PTI)
