A case of alleged sexual assault on a three-and-a-half-year-old girl at a city school has taken a disturbing turn, with the victim’s parents accusing the police of a faulty investigation, suppression of evidence, and collusion with the school management.
In an affidavit submitted to court last week, the parents detailed a series of alleged lapses, raising serious questions about the pursuit of justice.
The father had filed a petition in March stating that the girl returned home from daycare on February 13, complaining of pain. Her mother’s examination revealed redness in the genital area. When questioned, the child recounted being inappropriately touched by a “monster” in the school washroom.
In the additional affidavit, the parents attached a hospital report that found inflammation consistent with trauma — a finding the parents argue “suggests that the injury was caused by external physical force, rather than any natural or accidental cause”. Psychiatric evaluations conducted at Cooper Hospital indicated the child exhibited no psychological conditions that would lead to fabrication.
Expressing their lack of faith in the police, the parents stated, “the present petition has been filed due to the lack of faith that I have in the police machinery investigating the present FIR.” They submitted supplementary statements where the victim named school staff members, including a daycare teacher and a helper, as being aware of or encouraging the alleged abuse.
The father said he recorded a supplementary statement on March 8 providing these names but alleged that “it appears that the police have failed to take any meaningful action in investigating these individuals”.
The affidavit also highlighted discrepancies in the collection of CCTV footage. Despite a court order on March 5 to collect footage from the entire six-floor school complex for a 60-day period, the father claims police “rather simply accepted tampered and doctored clips, which do not have continuity” provided by the school. He alleged police accepted the school’s claim of only five cameras, whereas there are about 150.
The affidavit refuted police allegations, via an NGO report, of parental non-cooperation. “At no point did my husband or I attempt to obstruct the investigation… On the contrary, we have always sought to cooperate fully,” the father said.
The parents accused the police of leaking misinformation to malign the child and shield the culprits, urging the court to transfer the probe to an independent agency.
Meanwhile, in March, the court had directed the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to submit its report in three weeks. The FSL has sought four more weeks due to the large volume of data. State advocates assured the court that the police is looking into the role of school helper, named by the child.
The HC has scheduled the plea for hearing on May 7.
