Thane Ashram School Cook Arrested Under POCSO Act for Molesting 22 Minor Girls

A cook employed at a government ashram school in Temba, located in the Shahapur area of Thane district, has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly molesting 22 minor female students.

The accused, identified as Ganpat Gavli, was taken into custody earlier this week after the minor students at the residential school came forward with their complaints. Following the police action, authorities from the tribal development administration moved to place him under official suspension.

According to statements from the Project Officer of the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP), Gavli is a habitual offender with a history of facing similar accusations. Officials noted that the accused had previously been charged in connection with a similar offence involving students at another government ashram school located in Aghai.

The ITDP Project Officer revealed that Gavli had been jailed under the POCSO Act during the earlier case linked to the Aghai ashram school. Despite that previous criminal case and time spent in jail, he was later reinstated to service and assigned to work at the Temba ashram school facility in Shahapur.

The matter came to light again when 22 minor female students at the Temba ashram school reported being subjected to molestation by the cook. The complaints prompted police intervention, culminating in Gavli's arrest earlier this week.

The ITDP Project Officer, while briefing about the accused, confirmed the administrative measures taken against him. She stated that Gavli has been officially suspended following his arrest in connection with the allegations in Shahapur, as legal proceedings continue against him under the POCSO Act.