New Delhi, 15 July (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has cancelled the bail granted to a woman teacher accused in the rape case involving a three-year-old girl at a school in Janakpuri. A Bench headed by Justice Saurabh Banerjee directed the accused teacher to surrender before the authorities within three days.

The trial court had granted bail to the woman teacher on May 20. During the hearing before the High Court, Delhi Police argued that the trial court had erred in granting bail. The prosecution submitted that the case falls under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which carries a minimum punishment of 20 years' imprisonment. Delhi Police had sought cancellation of the bail granted to the accused by the trial court.

In the case, the minor victim has identified the accused and recorded a statement regarding the incident. The woman teacher is accused of concealing information about the crime from the school administration. Earlier, on June 29, the Delhi High Court had also cancelled the bail granted to the school's caretaker, who is the principal accused in the case.

The incident occurred on April 30. The child's mother lodged a complaint at the Janakpuri Police Station on May 1. The alleged sexual assault took place on the girl's second day at school. According to the complaint, when the child returned home on April 30, she complained of pain. Upon being questioned by her mother, she alleged that the school's caretaker had taken her to a secluded area of the school and sexually assaulted her.

According to the police, the child identified the accused caretaker, following which he was arrested on May 1.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar