MARGAO: In an unprecedented action, the Physical Education teacher of a school in Fatorpa, Ramesh Gaonkar booked by Cuncolim police for allegedly molesting a minor student, was handed over his suspension order while in police custody on Friday.
According to the sources in Cuncolim police, officials of the Sports department arrived at the police station on Friday morning with his suspension order.
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The officials then sought permission from the police and handed over the order to Gaonkar inside the police lockup. His suspension order was issued by the State government on Thursday afternoon.
This may be the first time that a suspension order was served to a person accused in a criminal case, while in police custody.
Sports Minister Govind Gaude confirmed the suspension of Gaonkar.
Meanwhile, Gaonkar was produced before judicial Magistrate first Class (JMFC) Quepem and eight days remand was taken. On Friday morning, his wife along with his advocate appeared at the Cuncolim Police Station in connection with the case. The alleged accused is likely to move a bail application for his release before the court.
There are allegations that the accused was involved in committing such offences in Ambaulim and Malkernem. However, when contacted, Quepem PI Deepak Pednekar said that no such cases have been registered against him in recent times.
A Cuncolim police team headed by PI Tukaram Chavan, lady PSI Kavita Raway and PSI Narayan Padker visited the Fatorpa Government High School in connection with the investigations and learnt to have recorded today statements of five more students. Police have so far recorded statements of 13 students in connection with the case.
Based on the complaint lodged by Head Mistress of the concerned school, PI Chavan has registered offence under Section 354 (A) (molestation) of Indian Penal Code (IPC), 509 of IPC and Section 8 of Goa Children’s Act, under Section 12 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO Act) and Section 67, 67 (A) of Information Technology Act, 2000 against the accused.
In her complaint made to Cuncolim police, the Head Mistress alleged that the accused Ramesh Gaonkar intentionally caught hold of a minor girl student’s hand, thereby outraged her modesty.
Police said that the accused was watching the minor girl student at the time of skipping rope activity in the school. Police further said that the accused person also sent pornographic videos to the minor student from his personal mobile phone, thereby violating the privacy of the minor girl, which is an offence.
It is pertinent to note that police have seized the mobile used by him to commit the offence. According to the police source, the victim girl is in standard 8th and her statement has been recorded.
