A school bus driver has been arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a three-year-old nursery student of a private school in Delhi's Bawana area, police said.
Child's family notices injuries
The incident came to light on August 19 after the child's family noticed injuries to her private parts. When questioned, the child allegedly told her mother about a "bad uncle" at the school who had been giving her chocolates.
On August 24, the child was shown photographs and CCTV footage from the school, during which she identified the accused, police stated.
Driver arrested from school premises
An FIR was registered under relevant provisions of the POCSO Act, and the accused was arrested from the school premises.
The accused had been driving a school bus for around eight months and allegedly followed the child to a bathroom before sexually abusing her.
Preliminary investigation suggests the child was abused four times, a senior police officer said.
Phone, CCTV footage seized
The accused's mobile phone has also been seized, with videos showing him giving chocolates to young children recovered from it. CCTV footage from across the school premises has also been taken into possession.
Saurabh Bharadwaj attacks Delhi CM
Reacting to the incident, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta over what he described as her 'cold and insensitive' response to a series of sexual abuse and rape cases involving minors in the national capital.
"Child R@pe Capital under lady CM. Yesterday's news - A 3 yr old boy was sexually assaulted at play school. Today's news - A 3 yr old girl sexually assaulted by her school van driver. Today’s news - A 15 yr old girl r@ped by bus staff in a moving bus. I am not saying that CM Rekha Gupta has r@pad these kids, but her reaction to such incidents has been very insensitive and cold," Bharadwaj said in a post on X.
AAP alleges inaction against school management
Bharadwaj also accused the chief minister of not meeting the parents of a three-year-old child who was allegedly sexually assaulted by the head clerk at a private school in Janakpuri.
He alleged that the government did not take action against the school's management despite an inquiry report finding POCSO violations.
"Her Govt and her minister @ashishsood_bjp did not register FIR against the school management despite enquiry report showing grave POCSO violations by school management. BJP is promoting a set of shameless influencers who would run social Media campaigns in favour of these R@pists," his post read.