Pune: A dance teacher from a renowned school in Karve Nagar has been sent to police custody until January 13 after a shocking case of sexual abuse involving multiple students came to light. Investigations have revealed that the teacher recorded videos of the abuse and allegedly threatened to share them.

The matter surfaced during a school counseling session when an 11-year-old student confided in his parents about the abuse. Following this, three more parents came forward, reporting similar incidents involving their children.

The accused had been sexually exploiting students in grades 6 and 7 for the past two years, often taking them to the school bathroom to commit the acts. The teacher reportedly filmed the abuse and used the footage to intimidate his victims.

The police have registered two cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. The accused, who was already in judicial custody for the initial case, was presented in court for further investigations into the new complaints.

Special Public Prosecutor Nitin Konghe and Investigating Officer Ranjit Mohite requested an extension of police custody, citing the need to examine whether the videos were circulated online and to identify additional victims.

The abuse came to light after a student sustained physical injuries and reported the misconduct to his parents. During the counseling session, other students also disclosed inappropriate behavior by the teacher, leading to a broader investigation.

Police are working to determine the scope of the crimes, including whether the videos were distributed on social media and if there are other undisclosed victims. The court has granted police custody of the accused until January 13 to facilitate these inquiries.