Eight, including Principal Madhuri Gaikwad, booked under POCSO Act for forcing 125 girls to strip at Ratanbai Damani School, Shahapur, after finding bloodstains. Two arrested; parents demand justice.
Shahpur | July 10, 2025: A shocking incident at Ratanbai Damani School in Shahapur, Thane district, has led to a case being registered against eight individuals, including Principal Madhuri Gaikwad, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, after bloodstains were found in the school bathroom, the administration allegedly forced 125 female students from classes 6 to 10 to strip for a menstruation check, causing widespread outrage among parents and the community. Two of the accused, including the principal, have been arrested, with police actively pursuing the remaining six.
The incident occurred at Ratanbai Damani School, operated by the Archana Educational Trust, which enrolls approximately 600 students from nursery to class 10. According to reports, bloodstains were discovered in the school toilet on Tuesday, prompting Principal Madhuri Gaikwad to investigate which student was menstruating. Instead of handling the matter sensitively, Gaikwad, along with female staff, allegedly forced 125 girls to remove their clothes for inspection. In a further disturbing act, the school projected images of the bloodstains wiped from the bathroom wall to all students, citing a lack of water in the facility. Parents also alleged that the students’ fingerprints were taken during the ordeal.
Traumatized by the humiliating experience, the affected girls returned home and tearfully recounted the incident to their parents. On Wednesday morning, July 9, furious parents gathered at the school, confronting the principal and demanding accountability. The situation escalated, turning the school premises into a virtual police camp as Shahapur Deputy Superintendent of Police Milind Shinde and Police Inspector Mukesh Dhage intervened to calm the crowd. Parents protested with slogans like “Damani School Hi Hi” and warned they would shut down the school if justice was not served, questioning why action was only taken after the students’ mental health was compromised.
The Shahapur police have registered a case against eight individuals—Principal Madhuri Gaikwad, four teachers, two trustees, and one female attendant—under Sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force to outrage modesty) and 76 (assault with intent to disrobe) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 11, 12, and 21 of the POCSO Act. Two of the accused, including the principal, have been arrested and were set to be produced in court on Thursday, July 10. The police are working to detain the remaining six. Deputy Superintendent Shinde confirmed that a letter is being sent to suspend the principal, and further investigations are underway to address the incident’s full scope.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with parents and community members demanding stringent action against the school administration. This case, alongside recent incidents in Sangli, Akola, and Dabhol, underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect students, particularly girls, in educational institutions across Maharashtra.
Follow us On Our Social media Handles :
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/newsdotz/
Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@NewsDotz
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573903448264
Twitter – https://x.com/NewsDotz