The denial of bail to a teacher accused of sexually assaulting his minor girl students by the Karnataka High Court reflects the gravity of the alleged crimes and the impact it has on society.

Justice Umesh M Adiga, in his observation, stated that the offenses committed by the petitioner were heinous. He also pointed out that the accused, as a teacher, failed to recognize his position and status in society while allegedly sexually harassing minor students.

The court emphasized the heinous nature of the offenses and the fact that the accused, as a teacher, should have been more mindful of his position and societal status. The court also acknowledged the revered status of teachers in India, often considered as gods, and expressed concern that the accused's behavior would deter parents from sending their girl children to school.

The case came to light when villagers informed the Block Education Officer (BEO) about the alleged illegal acts. Subsequently, the BEO and a Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) visited the school and gathered testimonies from students who claimed to have been sexually harassed and assaulted by the accused. Based on this complaint, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The petitioner sought bail, arguing that he was falsely implicated after raising concerns about a villager running a shop on the school premises. He claimed that no prior complaints had been filed against him and suggested that the villagers had coached their children to make false statements against him.

The State opposed the bail plea, highlighting the severity of the crimes committed against multiple children and emphasizing that the survivors had no connection to the alleged petty shop owner, thereby questioning the petitioner's defense.

The High Court considered the consistent statements of the survivors, who accused the petitioner of sexual harassment and assault. The court found their statements credible, as there was no apparent motive for them to make false accusations against the accused.

Consequently, the High Court upheld the lower court's decision to deny bail, deeming it appropriate given the serious nature of the alleged offenses and the potential impact on the survivors and their families.

Advocate AN Radha Krishna represented the petitioner, while the State was represented by High Court Government Pleader (HCGP) Mahesh Shetty.

Case Title: C Manjunath v. State of Karnataka and Anr