Overview
- The 4-year-old junior KG student disclosed the assault after arriving home late on January 22, leading police to register a POCSO case and arrest the driver the same day.
- A special POCSO court in Kalyan has remanded the accused to police custody until January 27 as investigators examine his background and employment history.
- The Kalyan RTO found the van lacked a valid permit and fitness certificate, cancelled its registration, fined the owner ₹24,000, and confirmed mandatory safety features were missing.
- Residents protested and vandalised the van, parents accused the school of failing to act, and local officials questioned whether the institution is operating without proper authorisation.
- Maharashtra minister Pankaj Bhoyar said the state will draft a law to bring pre-primary schools under formal oversight, as local leaders pressed for stricter rules and fast-track enforcement.