The accused, a 45-year-old physical trainer in Vile Parle’s ML Dahanukar College, touched the girl inappropriately thrice while she was appearing for a Std XII supplementary exam on Tuesday
A 45-year-old physical trainer in Vile Parle’s ML Dahanukar College was caught on CCTV molesting a girl while she was appearing for a Std XII supplementary exam on Tuesday.
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During the three-hour exam the teacher, identified as Mahendra Bhandare, inappropriately touched the 18-year-old thrice. She got him arrested the next day after the police found the CCTV footage of the classroom. The accused had been working at the college for the past 15 years.
The incident
The girl, a student of another college, was assigned the accused’s college as her exam centre. Bhandare, who was deputed as supervisor, first molested the girl while distributing answer sheets.
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A police officer said, “The first time it happened, the girl ignored it thinking it might have been a mistake but Bhandare did it twice again during the exam. The girl got scared and finished her exam as fast as she could. Also, Bhandare smiled at the girl while she was panicking. After giving the exam, the girl ran out from the classroom and narrated the incident to her parents.”
CCTV, a strong proof
The same evening, she, along with her parents, filed an FIR against Bhandare at Vile Parle police station. The cop added, “Since the classroom had a CCTV camera, the whole incident was recorded. After going through the footage the next day (Wednesday), we arrested Bhandare. The tape will serve as a strong evidence against him in court.”
While probing his background, the cops are also trying to find out if he has victimised anyone else earlier.
A police officer from Vile Parle police station said, “We are investigating if in the past too Bhandare has committed such incidents. If he has also molested any girl or staff member before this, we request them to come forward and approach the police to complain against him.” The court remanded him in two days’ police custody.
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