Bombay High Court Transfers Kolhapur Ashram School Assault Case To CID

The Bombay High Court has officially transferred the investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl at an ashram school in Kolhapur to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The ruling, delivered on July 20, 2026, came after the court strongly criticized the Kolhapur police for conducting what it termed a "shoddy" and "lackadaisical" probe.

The case originates from 2025, when the minor victim was allegedly sexually assaulted by the headmaster and a teacher of the ashram school in Kolhapur.

A Kolhapur circuit bench of the Bombay High Court, consisting of Justice Vrushali Joshi and Justice Sandesh Patil, expressed deep concern over the handling of the investigation. The bench stated it was shocked by the lapses in the probe, which is being conducted under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

During the court proceedings, the judges stated they were "flabbergasted" by a claim from the Kolhapur superintendent of police. The superintendent had claimed that no female IPS officer was available to lead or assist with the sensitive investigation.

The two-judge bench slammed the local law enforcement's "lackadaisical approach" to the case. The court further highlighted the investigating team's complete ignorance of the POCSO Act, which outlines strict protocols for investigating sexual offenses against children.

As a direct result of these investigative failures and the lack of proper oversight, the High Court ordered that the Kolhapur police be stripped of the case. The bench directed that the entire investigation be handed over immediately to the Maharashtra CID to ensure a thorough and lawful inquiry into the actions of the accused headmaster and teacher.