Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Principal arrested on rape charge

HYDERABAD: The principal of a private college was arrested by the Saroornagar police on Monday following a complaint that he had allegedly raped a student seven months ago in his ante-room.

The complainant, a 17-year-old girl from Yellampalli of Nalgonda district who is now pregnant, is pursuing a medical lab technician course in Success Vocational College at Dilsukhnagar. In her complaint, she stated that the college principal P. Ravi Kumar sexually assaulted her when she went to meet him in the college.

She lives with her father, a watchman, at an apartment building at Chaitanyapuri. “The student maintained that she went to the principal’s room seeking issuance of some certificates when he called her into his ante-room and violated her,” Inspector L.A. Bhaskar told reporters.

She also accused the 42-year-old principal of threatening to kill her if she revealed the matter to anyone. Fearing for her life, the student didn’t disclose the offence to anyone, the police said. The girl’s parents grew suspicious after she conceived. On confirmation of pregnancy, they lodged a complaint with the police.

A case of rape under section 376 of the IPC was registered and the principal was arrested. The arrested man, however, refuted the allegation and told the police that he was ready for any test to prove his honesty.

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