Pune School Bus Driver Denied Bail in Sexual Assault Case
The Bombay High Court has rejected the bail plea of a school bus driver from Pune, accused of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl studying in Class 2. The court cited the seriousness of the offence, the position of the accused, and the potential risk of witness tampering as reasons for the denial.
Court’s Observations
The court noted that the accused’s duty was to safely transport children, but instead, he allegedly stopped the bus, took the girl aside, and assaulted her. The accusations are backed by witness statements, including students on the bus and a bystander who intervened.
The accused’s lawyer, Advocate Tapan Thatte, argued for bail under Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows first-time offenders to be released after serving one-third of the maximum sentence. However, the court pointed out that the maximum punishment in this case is seven years, and the accused had served only two years, making him ineligible for bail.
Background of the Case
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The incident occurred on March 20, 2023, when the victim’s mother found her daughter crying after returning from school.
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The child revealed that the driver had stopped the bus and assaulted her.
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The incident was witnessed by another person, who intervened and stopped the driver.
Given the gravity of the crime, the court refused to grant bail, emphasizing that serious offences demand strict legal scrutiny.