Principal and Coach Sentenced to 20 Years in Miyapur POCSO Case
A Rajendranagar court has sentenced a preschool principal and a gymnastics coach to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment following a 2019 POCSO case. The verdict addresses a serious incident involving the assault of a minor student on school premises.
Highlights
- •A local court in Rajendranagar sentenced a gymnastics coach and a preschool principal to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.
- •The conviction follows a 2019 POCSO case involving a three-and-a-half-year-old girl at a school in Miyapur.
- •Police investigations revealed the coach assaulted the child while the principal failed to provide necessary oversight.
- •Financial penalties of Rs 20,000 and Rs 1,000 were imposed on the coach and principal, respectively.
In a significant legal development regarding a POCSO case, a local court in Rajendranagar has handed down severe sentences to two individuals associated with a private educational institution. The Ranga Reddy district Special Judge for Trial and Disposal of Rape and POCSO Act Cases, T. Srinivas, delivered the verdict, sentencing a preschool principal and a gymnastics coach to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI).
Details of the POCSO Case Conviction
The individuals convicted are K Kiran Sai (31), who served as a gymnastics coach, and C Deepika (37), the principal of the preschool located in Miyapur. According to the information shared by A. Muthyam Reddy, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Crimes, Cyberabad, the court also imposed financial penalties on both accused. Specifically, K Kiran Sai was fined Rs 20,000, while C Deepika was ordered to pay a fine of Rs 1,000.
The investigation into this POCSO case began following a formal complaint filed on June 27, 2019. The father of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl reported that his daughter had begun displaying abnormal behavior after attending classes at the school. The child had expressed distress and refused to return to the institution, alleging that she had been assaulted by the coach.
According to official records, the incident took place on June 20, when the school transportation was delayed. During this period, the coach took the minor to the gymnastics room situated on the top floor of the school building, where the violation occurred. The victim reportedly cried out during the incident, after which the coach left her on the ground floor and fled the scene.
Impact of Negligence and Legal Consequences
Authorities have emphasized that the principal's failure to maintain proper oversight allowed the coach to perpetrate this criminal act on the school premises. The investigation led to the immediate arrest of both the coach and the principal by the local police. Following a comprehensive inquiry, a charge sheet was prepared and submitted to the court, ultimately resulting in the conviction for their roles in this grave violation.
This 20-year sentence reflects the judiciary's strict approach toward ensuring justice under the POCSO Act, particularly when such incidents involve individuals in positions of trust within educational environments. The court's decision serves as a stern reminder of the legal consequences for failing to protect minors and for direct participation in crimes against children. The legal proceedings highlight the commitment of law enforcement and the judiciary to addressing crimes involving the safety of students in schools.
