Pune: Katraj Based Private School Management Accused Of Extortion And Harassment By Staff Members.
Pune: Katraj Based Private School Management Accused Of Extortion And Harassment By Staff Members.
7/August/2024.
The Bharati Vidyapeeth Police filed a complaint on Monday against five individuals, including the president, secretary, and principal of a private school in Katraj, of harassment and extortion.
Eleven staff members filed the complaint, claiming they experienced mental, physical, and financial harassment, including extortion and criminal intimidation, by the school administration. In their complaint, the teachers mentioned that they have been facing harassment by the management members, including the principal, for the past ten to twelve years. They reported incidents of casteist abuse, being given laborious tasks, sudden suspensions, inhumane treatment, working on holidays, extended working hours, and threats of job loss.
On February 6, 2023, the state government issued a notification stating that 60% of grants have been approved for teaching and non-teaching positions. To ensure teachers receive their salaries as per the government notice, completed files need to be sent to the education department by society for compliance.
On March 8, 2023, the accused called the complainants to the society office and demanded ₹ 5,000 per teacher as file processing charges. Additionally, they instructed the teachers to pay 10% of their monthly salary to the society until retirement. The complaint mentioned that the accused threatened to terminate their employment if they did not comply with the monthly salary payment to the society.
The management members accepted money from the teachers both online and through other means. A case is filed against the accused under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 384 and 34, said police.
