Betrayed by a mentor: Mumbai school teacher, friend held for year-long sexual assault of minor student

MUMBAI: A female school teacher of a well known school in Central Mumbai has been arrested along with her friend by the Dadar police for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage male student over the course of one year.

The 38-year-old accused, who is married and has children, reportedly groomed the minor by offering him emotional support, taking him to luxury hotels, and giving him alcohol and anxiety medication, according to officials.Police said the survivor, now 17, was initially introduced to the teacher through school extracurricular activities, including dance groups she organized. Over time, the accused allegedly gained his trust and began isolating him from his peers.

She reportedly picked him up from secluded locations in her sedan—now seized by police—and took him to 5-star hotels where the alleged abuse occurred.Investigators say the teacher administered anxiety pills without medical supervision and plied the boy with alcohol. The survivor confided in a close female friend in early 2025, who encouraged him to alert a school counsellor. When the school management was informed, they immediately reported the matter to the police.

During questioning, the boy revealed that he had remained silent for months, hoping the teacher would stop the abuse. He eventually spoke up after suffering emotional distress and anxiety. The victim boy lodged a complaint after passing out of the schoolThe teacher and her friend were arrested last week and has been remanded in police custody. Police have booked duo under multiple sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, including sections 376 (rape), 328 (causing hurt by poison), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 34 (common intent) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).Police are now reviewing the teacher’s past interactions with other students and examining her digital footprint for potential evidence of grooming or inappropriate conduct.“The accused projected herself as a mentor, but used her position of trust to exploit a vulnerable minor. This is a serious breach of professional and moral boundaries,” said a senior investigating officer.The school has suspended the teacher and issued a statement expressing full cooperation with law enforcement and support for the survivor.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)