MADURAI: The headmaster of Podhumbu Government High School surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate Court here on Tuesday in connection with a child abuse case filed against him.Arockiasamy, the headmaster, surrendered before Judicial Magistrate Court-2 and Magistrate Uma Mageshwari who recorded the statement of the accused, remanded him in Judicial Custody. She posted further hearing of the case to September 5. The accused has been lodged at Central Prison, Madurai.Arockiasamy, it was said, had sexually harassed the school children and the issue came to light only after protests were organised by All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) on July 14. A case was registered against the headmaster in this connection on the same day under sections 354 and 506(2) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).However, the police could not arrest the accused and speculations were rife that the school head was being protected by the Revenue Department and School Education department.When contacted, D Sabitha, School Education Secretary, said that the issue was brought to their notice on July 17 and he was suspended on the same day.However, the notice could not be served as he was absconding since the report of the incident. Even after a writ petition was filed before the High Court, the accused was not arrested.The accused had filed anticipatory bail pleas with the District Sessions Court and the High Court and the pleas were dismissed by both the courts.The HC had ordered the Child Welfare Committee to probe the incident and the report on the same had been sent to the petitioner and to the police for further action. Another protest was organised by the AIDWA seeking arrest of the headmaster on August 26.
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