#BreakingNews: School Van Driver Arrested for Assaulting 4-Year-Old Girl in Badlapur
School van driver arrested in Badlapur for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl student.
In a chilling repeat of past horrors, a school van driver was arrested on Thursday for the alleged sexual assault of a four-year-old girl from a private English-medium school. The incident unfolded as the child returned home, sparking immediate outrage and violent protests. Police at Badlapur West station registered a case under the POCSO Act, 2012, after the parents' complaint. The accused, whose identity is withheld pending court proceedings, exploited the absence of a female attendant in the van.
The girl's parents grew frantic when she failed to arrive home by afternoon, prompting calls to the school and frantic searches across the area. It was only late at night that the traumatized child returned, bravely recounting the assault to her family. They rushed her to the police station, where medical examination confirmed the allegations. Assistant Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kale confirmed the arrest followed overnight investigations, noting the driver's solitary control over the van as a key enabler.
Enraged citizens stormed the Badlapur police station, vandalizing the school vehicle in a fit of public fury. Protests escalated with volunteers and local political leaders joining demands for justice, highlighting systemic lapses in child safety. The mob's actions underscored deep community trauma from prior incidents, forcing heavy police deployment to restore order. ACP Kale assured the accused would face court on Friday for remand and further probe.
Also Read: Tesla Model Y Bursts Into Flames After Driver's Medical Emergency in Chicago Crash
Parents accused the school of flouting Maharashtra Education Department norms by hiring unchecked transport contractors without mandatory female aides or background verifications. They demanded rigorous audits of all school vehicles, CCTV mandates, and stricter licensing for drivers handling minors. This breach echoes ongoing scrutiny of private schools' transport protocols, which require at least one female supervisor per van. Activists called for statewide reforms to prevent such vulnerabilities.
This case revives painful memories of the August 2024 Badlapur school scandal, where two minor girls were assaulted by school sweeper Akshay Shinde, who later died in a police encounter. Co-accused Tushar Apte, the school's then-secretary, was recently elected unopposed in municipal polls despite the controversy. That tragedy ignited statewide protests, yet experts warn complacency persists. Child rights groups now urge faster implementation of POCSO safeguards and parental awareness drives.
Authorities vow swift justice, with forensic analysis underway and school transport suspended pending inquiry. The incident has reignited calls for a dedicated child protection task force in Maharashtra. As the accused appears in court today, Badlapur remains on edge, demanding accountability to shield its youngest from predators.
Also Read: Supreme Court Rebukes Lawyer Over Contempt Defiance
