MARGAO: The Cuncolim police on Wednesday revealed that PE teacher Ramesh Gaonkar was sexually grooming eight female students at the government school he was employed at. All eight school children involved in the case were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Quepem. Their confessional statements under Section 164 of the CrPC have been officially recorded.
The police revealed that further statements from additional students may be recorded in connection with the case. Ramesh Gaonkar, 45, a resident of Paddi, is currently in police custody on an eight-day remand. He underwent a medical examination at the Balli Health Centre on Wednesday. Gaonkar is yet to file a bail application for his release, according to sources within Cuncolim police. In the meantime, police authorities have reported that they have submitted a letter to the Directorate of Sports requesting information about the physical education teacher’s background and are awaiting the reports.
To recap, based on a complaint filed by the headmistress of the concerned government high school, Cuncolim police registered offenses under several Sections of the IPC, including Section 354(A) (molestation), Section 509 IPC, Section 8 of the Goa Children’s Act, Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, and Section 67 and 67(A) of the IT Act, 2000, against Gaonkar.
According to the complaint, Ramesh Gaonkar, on a date prior to August 30, grabbed the hand of a minor student, thereby outraging her modesty. He also allegedly ogled at a minor girl during a skipping rope activity at the school. Furthermore, Gaonkar is accused of sharing pornographic videos with the minor student using his personal mobile phone, violating her privacy. Authorities have seized the mobile phone used and investigations are underway.
