In a significant development, Belagavi City police on Thursday arrested the headmaster of a school in Belagundi village, who stands accused of misbehaving with a minor girl student. The arrest comes days after the incident escalated into a major political controversy, drawing sharp reactions from local leaders.
Incident Details and Initial Backlash
The alleged incident occurred on December 12. Following reports of the misconduct, tension gripped Belagundi village. The accused headmaster was reportedly assaulted by villagers when he attempted to enter the school premises after the allegations surfaced.
Initially, the family of the minor girl was reluctant to lodge a formal complaint. Consequently, the police took proactive measures and registered a suo motu case under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. However, the initial decision to release the accused on station bail, despite the serious nature of the charges, triggered widespread outrage and political debate.
Political Firestorm and Allegations
The case quickly snowballed into a political controversy. Former MLA Sanjay Patil made serious allegations, accusing the local MLA and the state's Women and Child Welfare Minister of exerting pressure on the police to shield the headmaster. Patil claimed the accused was a known supporter of the minister.
Adding to the criticism, Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil questioned the police's rationale for granting station bail to the accused, highlighting that such a move is unusual given the strict provisions usually applied under the POCSO Act, which often denies easy bail.
Arrest and Judicial Custody
Confirming the arrest, DCP (Law and Order) Narayan Baramani stated that the headmaster was taken into custody on Thursday. He was subsequently produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody at Hindalaga jail.
According to the senior officer, the arrest was executed after investigators gathered substantial evidence to support the case. A crucial part of the evidence was reportedly retrieved from the accused's mobile phone. The arrest marks a decisive step after days of public outrage and a flurry of political allegations surrounding the handling of the case.
The sequence of events—from the alleged crime and public anger to the political storm and eventual arrest—highlights the challenges in dealing with sensitive cases involving minors and the intense scrutiny they attract from both the public and political spheres.
