BANGALORE: The Jalahalli police have stepped up the investigation into the sexual harassment complaint filed by some parents against Fr. Mathew, principal of St. Claret's High School in Jalahalli.

Sources in the police told The Hindu on Thursday that they were ascertaining whether the students were sexually harassed as alleged by the parents or if it was a case of indecent behaviour.

To ensure that every aspect was probed thoroughly, the police were questioning the students, parents, teachers and the representatives of school management, the sources said. The police questioned Fr. Mathew, who surrendered before the J.C. Nagar police late on Wednesday night and was later released on bail. According to sources, during interrogation Fr. Mathew claimed that certain people, including some teachers who were dismissed by him, had levelled false allegations against him to settle scores.

Alleging that Fr. Mathew had misbehaved with two girl students, a group staged a protest in front of the school on Monday. They raised slogans against the principal and ransacked the school. The protesters stoned Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses and shops in the locality.

This is the second incident in recent weeks in which parents have ransacked school to vent their anger against school authorities. Angered by the disappearance of three girl students from St. Anthony's School in Chandra Layout, a group of people ransacked the principal's chamber on November 17.

They smashed the glass panes and a tabletop at the principal Victor Crasta's chamber. The mob damaged the glass covering of a notice board and threw stones at the school building.

Three girls studying in seventh standard had not returned home from school after they were "punished" for allegedly stealing money from another student's bag, the police said. The three girls, all aged 12, returned home the next day.

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