Pune: The Kondhwa police have arrested a school bus driver for allegedly behaving inappropriately with a 15-year-old schoolgirl. The accused, identified as 33-year-old Qayyum Ahmed Pathan, resides in Vidyanagar, Kondhwa Khurd. A complaint was lodged by the victim, a ninth-grade student, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

According to the police, Pathan was responsible for transporting schoolchildren in a mini-bus. On December 11, while dropping off a student on the Katraj-Kondhwa road, the driver reportedly stopped the bus.

When the girl assisted the student in alighting and stood near the bus door, the accused engaged in inappropriate behavior toward her. Shocked and afraid, the girl returned to her seat without informing her family.

However, two days later, Pathan attempted similar misconduct, prompting the girl to confide in her family. The family immediately approached the Kondhwa police, who arrested the driver. Sub-Inspector Pooja Patil is leading the investigation.

Non-Teaching Staff Accused of Harassment in Hadapsar

Separately, a non-teaching staff member at a school in Hadapsar allegedly sent inappropriate messages to a woman parent. The accused had obtained her mobile number under the guise of addressing her children’s concerns.

On December 23, he sent her offensive messages and reportedly stalked her. A case has been registered, and Sub-Inspector Altaf Shaikh is investigating the matter.

Recently, a dance teacher at a school in Karvenagar was arrested for inappropriate behavior toward students. The Warje Malwadi police had also arrested the institution’s administrator for negligence, highlighting accountability in such cases.