POCSO – Delhi High Court Revokes Bail of School Caretaker in Child Assault Case
POCSO – The Delhi High Court has withdrawn the bail granted to a private school caretaker accused in a child sexual assault case, reinforcing the seriousness of offences involving minors under the law.
The Delhi High Court has set aside the bail granted to a 57-year-old private school caretaker who is facing charges of sexually assaulting a three-year-old student inside a private school in west Delhi’s Janakpuri area. The court directed the accused, Lalit Kumar, to appear before the designated POCSO court and surrender by 2 pm on July 1 after allowing petitions filed by Delhi Police and the complainant challenging the earlier bail order.
High Court Overturns Trial Court Decision
The order was passed on Monday by a vacation bench headed by Justice Vinod Kumar. The court accepted the arguments presented by both the prosecution and the complainant, finding merit in their challenge against the trial court’s May 7 order that had allowed the accused to be released on bail.
While announcing the decision, the judge stated that both petitions deserved to be allowed and instructed the accused to surrender before the competent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court within the stipulated deadline.
Police Cite Serious Nature of Charges
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S. V. Raju, appearing for Delhi Police, argued that the allegations fall under aggravated penetrative sexual assault as defined under Section 6 of the POCSO Act. He submitted that the offence carries a minimum punishment of 20 years in prison due to its grave nature.
The prosecution also informed the court that the child had identified the accused and made detailed allegations regarding the incident, which strengthened the case against him. According to the police, these circumstances made the grant of bail inappropriate considering the seriousness of the charges.
Complaint Led to Criminal Investigation
The matter came to light after the child’s mother approached the Janakpuri police station on May 1 and lodged a complaint alleging that her daughter had been sexually assaulted during school hours.
According to the complaint, the three-year-old had attended school on April 30 as usual. After returning home later that day, the child reportedly complained of physical discomfort. Concerned by her condition, the family questioned her about what had happened at school.
Child’s Statement Forms Key Part of Case
The complaint states that the girl told her family she had been taken to a secluded area within the school premises, where the caretaker allegedly assaulted her. Following the complaint, police registered a case and initiated an investigation into the allegations.
The case has drawn attention because it involves an alleged offence against a very young child within an educational institution. Authorities continue to pursue legal proceedings under the provisions of the POCSO Act, which provides stringent punishment for crimes involving sexual offences against children.
With the High Court now cancelling the bail order, the accused has been instructed to surrender before the jurisdictional court, where further proceedings in the case will continue in accordance with law