POCSO-Accused Teacher Dies After Fall From Ramanagara SP Office Building

A 49-year-old physical education teacher accused of sexually assaulting several children died after jumping from the third floor of the Bengaluru South district Superintendent of Police office complex in Ramanagara, police said on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Shashidhar, a native of Vijayanagara district. He worked as a physical education teacher at a private school in Channapatna taluk.

Police said a complaint alleging that he had sexually assaulted several children at the school led to registration of a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was arrested on Saturday evening.

After his arrest, Shashidhar underwent a medical examination at a government hospital. On Sunday, he was brought to the SP office complex for further procedures before being handed over to judicial custody, a senior police officer said.

The teacher was on the third floor of the building at the Measurement Collection Unit, where police were recording his fingerprints.

After the procedure, he was being escorted towards the police vehicle when he allegedly pushed away a constable, ran towards the railing and jumped from the building, the officer said.

A CCTV camera captured the incident, showing the accused allegedly pushing the constable before running towards the railing and jumping, police said.

Shashidhar sustained grievous injuries in the fall and was taken to the district hospital. He later died there, police said.

The incident took place on Sunday at the office complex in Ramanagara, where the accused had been brought as part of the procedures following his arrest.

The police said further investigation was underway into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The POCSO case was registered following allegations concerning children at the private school in Channapatna taluk. Shashidhar died while the allegations against him were still pending investigation.

Police have not disclosed further details about the investigation.

The incident was recorded by CCTV, and the police account of the sequence is part of the ongoing inquiry. Authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances that preceded the fall.