School principal held for raping student in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD - The principal of an international school here has been arrested on charges of raping a Class 11 student from Mumbai, police said Thursday. The victim had become pregnant.

A case of rape and criminal intimidation has been booked against Salahuddin Ayub, principal of Parkwood International School at Manneguda near Vikarabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Crime Station (CCS), J. Satyanarayana, investigations into the complaint were on.

The CCS sleuths were questioning the principal and collecting scientific evidence to build the case against him, the officer said.

The parents of the girl from Mumbai alleged that she was repeatedly raped by the principal during the last one year.

The principal had allegedly threatened the girl with dire consequences if she said anything to anyone. The girl’s family complained after she reportedly became pregnant.

Investigating officials visited the school and the principal’s house and other places where the girl was sexually exploited.

Angry parents of some students staged a protest outside the school demanding stern action against the principal. Police and private security personnel had a tough time in controlling the crowd, which barged into the premises and damaged window panes.

Women’s organisations have also demanded punishment to the guilty.

However, the school authorities have denied the allegations against the principal and said they were aimed at defaming the school, which has branches in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the education department has also ordered a probe against the principal.

Minister for Secondary education D. Manikya Varaprasad told reporters that if necessary he would write to the Central Board of Secondary Education to derecognise the school.

The minister said the government would take steps to control such schools. “Such schools are there only to mint money and they have no concern for the welfare of children,” he said.