Mumbai: Yoga teacher held for sodomising 12-year-old student

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A 37-year-old yoga teacher has been arrested by the Santacruz police for sodomising a 12-year-old student, on Friday. The teacher was arrested after the child revealed the incident to his parents, who filed a complaint. "The accused was produced in court and remanded in police custody till June 16," said Balasaheb Tambe, senior PI Santacruz police station.

The yoga teacher, Anil Rajbhar, is from Uttar Pradesh and stays in Santacruz. According to the police, Rajbhar had been holding free yoga classes for children for the past few months. "He used to hold them in a garden or any other open place. The class was free so many parents started sending their children as they would learn something instead of spending time with their mobile phones," a police officer said.

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The police said at least 15-20 children in the age group of 10 years-16 years attended the classes that lasted for an hour. The police said Rajbhar started these classes after the lockdown and he used to take the kids home after class.

The 12-year-old survivor said on Friday, Rajbhar took him home and offered him some soup. "Then Rajbhar touched the boy inappropriately. The minor didn't realise what was happening till the accused forced him into oral sex. Then the accused threatened him not to reveal what happened. But the minor told his parents," the officer said.

"We registered a case under sections 377 (Unnatural offences) of IPC and the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act," Tambe added. The police said they will approach the parents of all the children who attended the yoga classes to find if the accused has abused them.