NBWs Issued in Kapol School Harassment Case
• Principal, HODs Face Arrest in Student Mistreatment Row
• Fee Dispute Turns Legal: Warrants Against School Heads
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Non-Bailable Warrants have been issued against the Principal and HODs of Kapol Vidyanidhi International School, Mumbai, over allegations of mentally harassing students for unpaid fees. Booked under Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act – 2000, the accused face legal and professional consequences. Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) continues monitoring the case.
In a significant legal development, the Judicial Magistrate (First Class), 17th Court, Borivali, has issued Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs) against key officials of Kapol Vidyanidhi International School, Kandivali (West), over allegations of student mistreatment linked to unpaid tuition fees. The court order, dated 04/04/ 2025, intensifies scrutiny into growing concerns over unethical disciplinary actions in Mumbai’s private school sector.
The warrants have been issued on 11/06/2025 for execution against the following individuals:
•Dr. Reshma Ashok Hegde – Principal
•Ms. Toral Shah – Head of Department
•Ms. Susham Kumar – Head of Department
Contents
NBWs Issued in Kapol School Harassment Case• Principal, HODs Face Arrest in Student Mistreatment Row• Fee Dispute Turns Legal: Warrants Against School HeadsAllegations of Mental Harassment Over Fee DisputesFIR Registered Under Juvenile Justice Act’s Child Protection ProvisionsAlso Read: Motilal Oswal Penalized ₹3 Lakh by SEBI for Regulatory Non-Compliance.Widening Debate Over Accountability in Private SchoolsNext Court Hearing Scheduled Amid Growing Public Attention
The accused, previously released on bail since April 2023, repeatedly failed to appear in court despite multiple summons. The repeated non-compliance compelled the magistrate to issue NBWs, which have now been formally handed over to Kandivali Police Station for execution.
Allegations of Mental Harassment Over Fee Disputes
The case stems from a First Information Report (FIR) lodged on April 4, 2022 (Police Case No. S/1705324/2023, CNR No. MHMM170093852023). The complaint alleges that between 15 to 20 students were forcibly seated in the school’s Physics Laboratory instead of classrooms for failing to pay full tuition fees. This alleged disciplinary action has widely been condemned as mental harassment and coercive behavior, raising serious questions on child welfare and institutional ethics.
Parents and child rights activists argue that such punitive actions violate the basic dignity of children and reflect a larger pattern of financial pressure tactics increasingly seen in private educational institutions. Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has reviewed multiple such complaints surfacing across Mumbai’s private school network.
FIR Registered Under Juvenile Justice Act’s Child Protection Provisions
The FIR was registered under Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, which specifically addresses cruelty to children by individuals responsible for their care or education. This legal provision criminalizes any act of assault, neglect, or mental cruelty inflicted by those in positions of authority over minors.
Under Section 23, if proven guilty, the accused may face:
•Imprisonment of up to six months,
•Monetary fine,
•Or both, alongside potential administrative, professional, and institutional penalties.
According to legal experts consulted by Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT), even minimal custodial sentencing under this section can have far-reaching consequences for the accused’s professional credentials and the institution’s operating license.
Also Read: Motilal Oswal Penalized ₹3 Lakh by SEBI for Regulatory Non-Compliance.
Widening Debate Over Accountability in Private Schools
This case has reignited public debate on fee-related coercion, mental harassment, and lack of regulatory oversight in private educational institutions across Maharashtra. Multiple parent associations have called for stricter enforcement of child protection laws and establishment of transparent grievance redressal mechanisms.
Education activists argue that the absence of binding regulations allows private schools to exercise disproportionate financial control over parents, often using disciplinary actions as indirect fee recovery tactics. The Kapol Vidyanidhi incident is being cited as a textbook example of these excesses.
Speaking to Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT), child rights lawyer Advocate S.K. Mehta stated:
“The practice of isolating students for non-payment of fees amounts to psychological abuse under the Juvenile Justice Act. Regulatory agencies must step in to enforce strict compliance and hold both individuals and management accountable.”
Next Court Hearing Scheduled Amid Growing Public Attention
The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for June 18, 2025. In the interim, law enforcement authorities are under court orders to execute the NBWs against the accused school officials.
Sources within the education department indicate that this case may also trigger an administrative review of the school’s operating license, depending on the court’s findings and potential convictions. The outcome may set an important legal precedent for how private schools handle financial disputes without compromising student welfare.
As the investigation unfolds, Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) will continue to track legal proceedings and regulatory responses in what could become a landmark case for child rights violations in India’s private school sector.
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