Pune: A female student who was appearing for Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination claimed that she along with her few friends were asked to remove their clothes to check if they were carrying any chits at the exam centre at MIT Gurukul, Loni Kalbhor.

The incident came to light after a few students went on to lodge a complaint against the two women peons at Loni Kalbhor police station. A girl in her written statement revealed that even after informing that she was menstruating, the women peons forced her to remove her innerwear and checked, leaving her devastated. Similar harrowing incident was experienced by other girls as well at the examination centre. 

When contacted, Director of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, (MSBSHSE) Shakuntala Kale, said, “If such an incident has been reported, the board will certainly probe into the matter and take action against the culprits. However, it is impossible that our invigilators or appointed checking squad indulge in such an act.”

A case has been registered against two women peons for offences under section 354 (outraging the modesty of women) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 8 (punishment for sexual assault) and 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.