PANAJI
The Fast Track Special Court (POCSO), Panaji has convicted a school teacher for repeatedly sexually assaulting a minor student over several years, sentencing him to 11 years of rigorous imprisonment.
The accused, Mahesh Chanekar (54), who was working as a science teacher at a high school in Pernem, was found guilty of rape under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
As per the case details, the offence was committed between 2015 and September 2, 2019, during which the accused exploited his position as a teacher to repeatedly assault the minor.
Presiding Officer Pooja Kavlekar noted that the victim was under his authority and trust, which aggravated the nature of the offence.
The FIR was registered at Pernem police station on June 15, 2020, after the disclosure, and a charge sheet was filed within two months. The trial commenced in July 2022, during which the prosecution examined 23 witnesses and relied on the victim’s testimony, which the court found credible and consistent.
The court held that the accused had subjected the minor to repeated sexual assault and intimidation, taking advantage of his position as a teacher. “The offence is grave in nature, involving breach of trust by a person in a position of authority,” the order noted while determining the sentence.
The FTC thus sentenced Chanekar to 11 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000.
