The four-year-old alleged rape victim from a private Delhi school could have been tutored, suggests the counsel for the school.
Rajappa Srinivasan, the legal advisor of the reputed school in Delhi where a four-year-old has been allegedly sexually assaulted, claimed that the allegations made by the child could have been been “taught”.
Children are children, they can be taught. They can be made to say things.Rajappa Srinivasan, School’s Legal Advisor
In the incident, which came into light on 23 November 2017, a classmate of the four-year-old girl had allegedly inserted his finger and a sharpened pencil into her, injuring her private parts, while on school premises on 17 November.
Responding to Rajappa’s claim, the girl’s mother told The Quint:
It is not possible for a mother to teach her daughter to tell the world that she has been sexually assaulted. If my daughter was tutored, she would say it once and not narrate the incident with the same references repeatedly.
Rajappa initially said there is no prima facie evidence to prove the allegation made by the four-year-old. He said, “The possibility of such an incident is remote.”
The lawyer also suggests that the allegations might not be true because the girl is not seen ‘crying’ or ‘in distress’ in the CCTV footage available from that day.
On countering him about the available medical report which says that there were signs of sexual assault, he said there is no evidence to prove who has done it and suggested that the mother should disclose all encounters prior to the date of the alleged incident.
The mother holds the school responsible for negligence and demands that the school be booked under POCSO.
Because of the school’s negligence, my daughter’s life has been scarred.Mother
However, due to the sensitive age of both the girl and boy involved, the police are reportedly “deliberating” on how best to proceed with the investigation in the case.
Several agencies like National Commission for women and children, child welfare committee, education department are involved in the probe. Police role is very limited.Shibesh Singh, DCP South West to The Quint
The DCP said probe is also being undertaken on the school but said, “No school will accept their fault.”
The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has summoned the principal and three of the school’s staff members.
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