HC rejects bail of headmaster held in sexual harassment case

Madras High Court today refused bail to a 50-year old government school headmaster arrested on charge of sexually harassing a girl student, equating him to Dushasana, who disrobed Draupadi in epic Mahabharat.
Justice S Vaidyanathan dismissed the bail application of Mariya Louis, against whom a sexual harassment complaint was lodged by a minor girl in Kangyeam.
"For the wrong acts done by male students, Mariya Louis, aged 50, projected himself as a nightmare, and received apology letters from students and parents. From facts narrated so far, it is clear that he acted as Dushasana towards female students, and acted as Duryodhana towards male students," the Judge said.

The girl, a class X student, had discontinued her studies due to poverty. Louis took special tuition for her. On July 15, he sexually harassed her following which the girl attempted to commit self-immolation.
Louis, arrested on July 16, alleged in his bail petition that the case against him was false. Local police and politicians became vengeful because school students had held protest demanding funds for the school development, he said.
He also submitted that since he was very strict, the girl might have lodged a complaint.
Rejecting the contentions, the Judge in his order said: "A perusal of records clearly shows that because of misbehavior of the headmaster, the girl has attempted to commit suicide, which was prevented by her brother.

"Some of the school students and teachers also have given statements against the headmaster," he added.