On the first day of school, 13 students were expelled from Safa High School & Junior College in Mumbai without notice. Parents allege harassment by the Bombay Education Welfare and Charitable Trust. Despite valid documents and willingness to pay fees, the school refused readmission. Sprouts SIT demands urgent government intervention.
13 Students Evicted Without Notice at Safa High School, Mumbai
On June 16, 2025—the first day of the new academic year—13 students were forcibly removed from Safa High School & Junior College, located at Babula Tank Cross Lane, near BMC ‘B’ Ward Office, Mumbai-400009. The school, managed by Bombay Education Welfare and Charitable Trust, reportedly cancelled these students’ admissions without prior notice and issued Leaving Certificates to them.
Despite parents having valid documents and being ready to pay the annual fee of ₹25,200 as declared in inspection records, the school administration denied re-admission. Parents claim this is part of a deliberate and targeted harassment campaign stemming from personal grudges held by school authorities.
Trustees of the School Under Spotlight
The Bombay Education Welfare and Charitable Trust, which oversees Safa High School, lists the following individuals as its trustees:
1.Ishrat Shahabuddin Shaikh
2.Muhammad Saleem Iqbal Motorwala
3.Umaer Shahabuddin Shaikh
4.Mehmood Ahmed Khan Daryabadi
The trust is officially registered at:
1603/1604, Kedy Tower Co-Operative Housing Society, 233/234, Bellasis Road, Mumbai-400008.
Students Left in Rain as Police Watch
According to eyewitnesses, the school management denied entry to the children and forced them to stand outside in heavy rain. The parents were informed only after 7:32 AM via calls from school staff, asking them to take their children home as the admissions had been “cancelled.”
Shockingly, a police van had already arrived by 7:15 AM, allegedly called by the school management to stop parents from entering the campus. The early arrival of police before parents were notified raises questions about premeditated intent.
Education Dept Letter Ignored; Police Unable to Help
In a desperate attempt to seek justice, students dialed the 103 Police Helpline, prompting the arrival of law enforcement. Parents submitted a letter from the Deputy Director of Education addressed to the Education Inspector, clearly stating that reinstating cancelled admissions was the Inspector’s responsibility.
While the police acknowledged the importance and clarity of the letter, they stated they had no authority to enforce student readmission.
Parents subsequently approached several educational and child protection authorities, including:
•Education Inspector Office, South Zone, Parel
•Asst. Deputy Director of Education, Charni Road
•Child Welfare Committee, Worli
•District Child Protection Unit, Worli
Yet, none offered any assurance regarding re-admission, compounding the distress of affected families.
Parents Allege Vendetta; Students Mentally Distressed
Aggrieved parents allege that the school’s actions are not administrative but retaliatory, aimed at punishing families that questioned or opposed management decisions. The refusal to accept fees—despite parents’ willingness to pay—is being seen as evidence of bias and malice.
Meanwhile, children are reportedly experiencing mental trauma and social withdrawal, refusing to engage with peers or leave home. “Our children are being punished emotionally for no fault of theirs,” said one parent to the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT).
#image_title
Sprouts SIT Demands Urgent Government Action
After reviewing documentation and conducting parent interviews, the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has verified the legitimacy of the Deputy Director’s letter and found no valid grounds for student expulsion. The arbitrary exclusion of students, on the first day of the academic year, coupled with the use of police to suppress parental access, amounts to administrative abuse and potential violation of child protection laws.
Sprouts SIT strongly urges:
•The Maharashtra Education Department
•The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights
•The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
…to immediately intervene and initiate a high-level probe into the conduct of Safa High School & Junior College and its managing trustees.
Education is a constitutional right, and such incidents must not be allowed to create dangerous precedents of unchecked authority, especially in schools entrusted with the care and development of young minds.
Unmesh Gujarathi is an Indian investigative journalist and media professional with over 28 years of experience in print and digital journalism. He is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sprouts News, an independent investigative publication headquartered in Mumbai, established in 2020.
Throughout his career, he has held editorial positions at leading media organisations, including:
DNA (Daily News & Analysis)
The Times Group
The Free Press Journal
Saamana
Dabang Dunia
Lokmat
His reporting has focused on investigative journalism, governance accountability, public policy, corruption, crime reporting and the Right to Information (RTI) framework in India.
As Editor-in-Chief of Sprouts News, he oversees:
Investigative direction
Editorial standards and verification protocols
Legal compliance and ethical review
Newsroom operations and accountability processes
Education & Academic Background
Unmesh Gujarathi holds:
Master of Commerce (M.Com)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Degree in Journalism
His academic background supports his reporting in areas related to governance, financial systems, public administration and regulatory matters.
Published Works & Contributions
In addition to newsroom leadership, he is the author of more than 12 books in Marathi and English. His published works cover topics including:
The RTI Act and transparency mechanisms
Political leadership, including writings on Balasaheb Thackeray
Career guidance
Investigative journalism practices
He has contributed to national dailies and digital media platforms, focusing on evidence-based reporting and public-interest journalism.
Good work 🙏