Shahapur Tribal School Kitchen Helper Arrested Under POCSO After 22 Students Complain
Police have arrested a 35-year-old kitchen helper under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after 22 female students accused him of molestation at the Adivasi Ashram Shala in Tembhe, located in Shahapur taluka of Thane district.
The accused, identified as Ganpat Gavli, worked at the Maharashtra government-run tribal boarding school. The female students, studying in Classes 6 to 10, alleged that Gavli repeatedly touched them in an inappropriate manner whenever they visited the school kitchen to drop off their plates and utensils after lunch or dinner.
The allegations surfaced on August 24 after one student approached the school headmistress to report Gavli's conduct. Following her initiative, 21 other students came forward and submitted a written complaint to the headmaster detailing similar experiences of being touched inappropriately by the kitchen helper.
According to the complaint, the students had previously reported Gavli's behaviour to the school superintendent. However, they claimed the superintendent became angry with them instead of taking action. The students have also raised allegations of inappropriate behaviour against the superintendent, which form part of the complaint and are currently under investigation.
The incident has brought scrutiny to Gavli's employment background. In 2024, Gavli had faced a POCSO case and was arrested over allegations of molesting a minor student at another tribal residential school. After securing bail, his suspension was revoked, and he was appointed to the residential school in Tembhe where female students were enrolled.
Assistant Tribal Development Project Officer B R Jadhav, who heads the Education Department at Shahapur under the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), confirmed that Gavli's earlier suspension had been revoked by the office of the Assistant Tribal Commissioner. Jadhav stated that strict action would be initiated against the accused.
Police have registered a First Information Report based on the students' complaints and taken Gavli into custody. Shahapur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Vishal Nagargoje is supervising the investigation, which will also review the allegations against the superintendent and the administrative decision to reinstate Gavli following his previous arrest.
