Taking serious note of MiD DAY's report (Headmaster under scanner for seeking sexual favours, May 21) on the alleged sexual harassment of seven girl students at a state-run residential school for the children of conservancy staff in Yerawada by the school headmaster, Yadav Iraba Gaikwad, the Social Welfare Department commissioner yesterday suspended the headmaster.
“The headmaster is accused of allegedly seeking sexual favours from seven girl students aged between seven and 12 from the residential school.
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He is also accused of speaking with relatives, mothers of the girls in an indecent language and asking the girl students to perform sweeping and cleaning work at his residence,” said R K Gaikwad, director of Social Welfare Department, while issuing Gaikwad’s suspension order.
The order also stated that the headmaster is accused of going into the girls’ hostel rooms and behaving indecently with them.u00a0“Due to the behaviour of Gaikwad, the image of the department has been tarnished to a great extent and the commissioner of Social Welfare is forced to take disciplinary action and issue suspension order of Gaikwad with immediate effect,” the order stated.
“Regional Deputy Commissioner, Anil Kamble, investigated the case and submitted the report to me and as per preliminary investigation, we have decided to suspend Gaikwad. In the suspension period, he will have to stay at the headquarters of Assistant Commissioner, Social Welfare. I have formed a
committee that will be conducting an extensive inquiry into this matter and if found guilty, we will take police action against Gaikwad,” said R K Gaikwad.
Refuting all the charges levelled against him, Yadav Gaikwad said that some people at the residential school are trying to frame him as he was trying to discipline the staff as well as the students.u00a0“The department should come forward and lodge a complaint against the headmaster. If somebody lodges a complaint against him, we will take action against Gaikwad,” said Sanjay Jadhav, deputy commissioner of police (Zone IV). u00a0