Pune: 15-Year-Old Boy Sexually Abused at Warkari Educational Institute in Alandi

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Alandi, 5th March 2025: A shocking case of sexual abuse of a 15-year-old student has come to light at a prominent Warkari Educational Institute in Alandi, near Pune. Two staff members of the institute were booked late yesterday for their involvement in the incident, marking the third such case in the area within two months.

Senior Police Inspector Bapu Dhere, in charge of Dighi Police Station, told Punekar News, “The case has been registered with us. Both the Maharaj—one who carried out the assault and the other who tried to suppress the matter—have been arrested. The court has granted them police custody until March 10. The boy is from outside Pune and had come here to learn, but additional details cannot be disclosed.”

The accused, identified as Mahesh Popat Narode (27) and Gaurav Dattatraya Mali (21), were charged based on a complaint filed by the victim at the Dighi Police Station. According to police, Mali, an employee at the institute, sexually abused the boy over three consecutive nights in January after the victim had gone to sleep following dinner.

When the victim informed Narode about the abuse, instead of taking action, Narode allegedly threatened the boy not to disclose the incident to anyone. This latest case has further intensified the ongoing controversy surrounding Warkari educational institutions in Alandi.

The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who are now demanding the closure of all Warkari educational institutions in Alandi. This comes in the wake of recent inspections ordered by Rupali Chakankar, Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, following previous reports of sexual exploitation in these institutions.

Despite the administration’s efforts to inspect these institutions, the recurring nature of such incidents has led to calls for more stringent action. The Women and Child Development (WCD) department had previously conducted inspections, revealing poor living conditions and inadequate facilities in many dharamshalas.

PSI Shingare, under the guidance of senior officials from Pimpri Chinchwad Police, is conducting a further investigation into the matter.