PANIPAT, Oct 2 — A Panipat court on Wednesday sent a school principal and a cab driver to judicial custody in a case where a Class II student was allegedly hung upside down from a window, an incident that came to light after a video went viral.
Police said they had recovered the rope used to tie the boy’s legs, sealing it as evidence. “Three more victim students, who were slapped by the principal and seen in the viral video, have also come to the fore in the case. The statements of their parents have been recorded,” said DSP (Headquarters) Satish Kumar, who is leading the special investigation team.
Forensic expert Dr. Neelam Arya, Superintendent of Police Bhupender Singh, and Additional Deputy Commissioner Dr. Pankaj Yadav visited the school to collect further evidence.
During interrogation, the accused principal, identified as Reena, allegedly admitted that she frequently forced children to clean her office or pick up garbage, punishing them if they refused. “The seven-year-old boy was naughty. He didn’t clean the office and didn’t pick garbage,” she reportedly told investigators.
The cab driver, Ajay alias Ajju, allegedly demanded that children address him as ‘Chacha,’ and would scold or beat them if they did not comply. Police said Reena confessed she had asked Ajay to “teach the boy a lesson.” According to investigators, Ajay then took the boy to the first floor, tied his legs, hung him upside down from a window, and slapped him.
The incident occurred in August but surfaced only after the video spread online last week. Another clip showed the principal slapping children in front of classmates. The boy’s mother said her son, who had joined Srijan Public School, Virat Nagar, this year, had been left deeply traumatised.
Police arrested Ajay on Sunday night, followed by Reena on Monday. Both were placed under two days of remand before being sent to judicial custody. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and further charges could follow.
