Ahmedabad: A sessions court in Ahmedabad has sentenced a karate trainer employed by a private school in Vastral, Chakra alias Arya Dube, to three years in prison under the provisions of the Pocso Act for showing pornographic videos to Class 5 girl students.While sentencing Dube to jail, special Pocso judge A B Bhatt imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him and ordered that Rs 24,000 of the penalty amount be disbursed among the six students who came forward to report the 20-year-old trainer’s improper conduct and deposed before the court during the trial.In Dec 2023, a parent of one of the students lodged a complaint with Ramol police against Dube, accusing him of showing her daughter and other girls obscene videos on his mobile phone. Police booked him under Section 354A(1)(iii) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertains to showing pornography against the will of a woman. Since the victims were minors, the corresponding Section 11(iii) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act was also invoked.During the trial, additional public prosecutors K G Jain and D M Thakor examined 18 witnesses and submitted an equal number of documents to establish Dube’s guilt.While sentencing the accused, the court observed: “The accused, being a karate teacher, occupied a position of immense trust, respect and responsibility in relation to the students. A teacher is expected not only to impart education but also to act as a moral guardian and protector of children within the school environment. Especially when the accused is a karate teacher, a form of self-defence training, the conduct of the accused, as established during trial, amounts to a serious breach of this sacred trust, thereby shaking the confidence of students and parents in the safety of educational institutions. Therefore, the act of the accused shall not be treated with leniency and the punishment prescribed under the provisions is required to be imposed.”The court further said: “Moreover, considering the position of the accused as a teacher, this court is of the view that proper punishment and a lesson are required to be awarded. Keeping in mind the purpose of deterring others from committing such crimes, it is considered a fit case for maximum punishment.”
