School principal harasses 10-year-old before class, arrested after she raises alarm

According to police, 50-year-old principal Ravi Sonawane called the girl to school before classes began and sexually harassed her.The accused school principal Ravi SonawaneA school principal in Maharashtra has been arrested after a 10-year-old student complained of sexual harassment.The incident took place in Maharashtra’s Nanded district. According to police, 50-year-old principal Ravi Sonawane called the girl to school before classes began and sexually harassed her. The incident came to light after the girl raised an alarm.The girl later told her parents about what happened. Her parents approached the local station and lodged a complaint against the principal. Following the complaint, police registered a case under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and arrested Sonawane.Talking about the development, senior cop Rameshwar Venzane told India Today that Sonawane would be produced before a court, where police would seek his custody for further investigation. The investigation is underway. The incident occurred just two days after a blind minor student at a residential school in the same district died while undergoing treatment under suspicious circumstances.Following her death, the parents had accused the school management and staff of wrongdoing. The local police registered a POCSO case against the headmaster and other employees. According to police, the blind student's health deteriorated following the alleged abuse, and she was admitted to a private hospital, where she died during treatment.Senior cop Shyam Panegaonkar said police were investigating all aspects of the case.The death sparked outrage in the area, with thousands of students, women and members of various social organisations taking part in a candlelight march. Protesters demanded that the circumstances surrounding her death be brought to light and strict action be taken against those responsible.With the two cases emerging within a span of just two days, questions are now being raised over the safety of girls in schools and residential educational institutions in the district.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Aug 22, 2026 18:32 IST