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Doctor working for Isha Foundation Medical Camp Arrested for Sexually Assaulting 12 Schoolgirls in Coimbatore

SimpliCity News Team · 07 Sept 2024

Coimbatore: The Perur All-Women Police Station (AWPS) arrested a doctor on Friday under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for sexually assaulting 12 girl students of a government high school in Thondamuthur block. The incident occurred during a medical camp run by Isha Foundation.

The case came to light during a meeting conducted by education officers in schools, following instructions from Chief Secretary N Muruganandam. This directive was issued after four staff members of Government Arts and Science College in Valparai were arrested for sexually harassing students.

On Wednesday, a meeting was held with students from Class 6 to Class 10 at the school in Thondamuthur. During this meeting, twelve girl students reported having a bad experience with Dr S Saravanamoorthy, a 33-year-old native of Tirupattur district, who was part of the free medical camp held at their school.

Police investigations revealed that mobile medical units operated by Isha Foundation conducted free health camps for the general public and schoolchildren across Coimbatore district under the banner 'Action for Rural Rejuvenation'. The school authorities reported the incident to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), who conducted an inquiry with the students and subsequently informed the Perur AWPS on Thursday.

Officials from the Perur AWPS visited the school and individually questioned each victim. After recording their statements, a case was registered against Saravanamoorthy under Section 9(e) read with Section 10 of the POCSO Act on Friday. Section 9(e) pertains to sexual assault committed by management or staff of a hospital, whether government or private, on a child in that hospital. The accused was arrested, produced before the special POCSO court, and remanded to judicial custody in Coimbatore central prison.

In response to the incident, Isha Foundation released a statement saying, "It has been brought to our notice that a case has been registered against an employee who is a doctor with our outreach mobile medical services in the rural areas of Coimbatore. Isha holds a Zero Tolerance Policy for any crimes against women and children. We are cooperating with the ongoing police investigation and will take necessary actions by the legal."

sexual assault POCSO arrest doctor school Isha Foundation Thondamuthur

Doctor working for Isha Foundation Medical Camp Arrested for Sexually Assaulting 12 Schoolgirls in Coimbatore

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