The Delhi High Court on Monday cancelled the bail of a 57-year-old private school staff member accused of raping a three-year-old girl in Delhi’s Janakpuri area.
A vacation bench led by Justice Vinod Kumar ordered the accused to surrender before the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court by 2 pm on July 1. "I've agreed with the state and petitioners. Both the petitions are allowed. The respondent is directed to surrender before the POCSO court on July 1 at 2pm," the judge announced during the verdict presentation.
A comprehensive copy of the written judgment is still pending release. The decision followed two separate appeals lodged by the Delhi Police and the victim's mother, both contesting a trial court's May 7 ruling that had granted the man bail. The staff member was originally arrested on May 1 and placed in judicial custody after the mother filed a complaint at the Janakpuri police station. The mother alleged that her daughter was sexually assaulted during school hours on April 30, just two days after starting at the institution.
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The girl complained of physical pain upon returning home and informed her mother that a man had taken her to an isolated spot inside the school to assault her. Consequently, the police registered a case under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for minor rape alongside Section 6 of the POCSO Act. Despite the severity of the charges, the trial court granted him bail on May 7 under specific conditions and a ₹20,000 surety bond.
Following the incident, the Delhi government issued a formal show-cause notice to the school administration on May 8 regarding the assault on its premises. The Directorate of Education (DoE) raised critical concerns about student safety, lack of supervision, and failure to follow statutory guidelines.
The regulatory body warned the school that an unsatisfactory explanation could lead to the loss of its official recognition or a complete government takeover of its management under the Delhi School Education Act and Rules.
Challenging the lower court's leniency, the Delhi Police, led by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, petitioned the High Court for bail cancellation, emphasising that the child successfully identified both the accused and a teacher during a test identification parade. Defense counsel KK Manan strongly opposed the move, maintaining that the alleged assault never occurred.
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