Tamil Nadu: PE Teacher Arrested After School Alumni Raise Sexual Harassment Allegations

Tamil Nadu PE teacher: In the wave of #MeToo sweeping schools in Tamil Nadu, a male physical education (PE) teacher was reportedly arrested Tuesday near Mayiladuthurai, after alumni accused him of sexual harassment. The accused was detained last week and a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered under him.

The teacher, identified as one S Annadurai, is 52 years old and had been an employee at the prominent Diwan Bahadur T Rangachariar (DBTR) National Higher Secondary School for two decades. News of his arrest comes just weeks after similar events at other Chennai schools. Read more on that here.

A police complaint was filed against Annadurai after a woman alleged he had misbehaved with her, touched her inappropriately and molested her at his house when she was a student at DBTR three years ago, reports said. Two other students came forward to support her and make similar complaints, leading to Annadurai's arrest.

He is being held at a jail in Sirkazhi.

South India Schools' #MeToo Wave: Tamil Nadu PE Teacher Harassment Case Events

On June 5 after the first student's complaint, Annadurai was detained at the All Women's Police Station in Mayiladuthurai. Students and staff of DBTR assembled at the police station protesting in favour of Annadurai, claiming he was innocent. However, when two more complaints came to light, the teacher was arrested.

The 2021 wave of #MeToo in Tamil Nadu schools was prompted most notably by alumni and students of PSBB, Chennai. They took to social media accusing a commerce teacher of sexual misconduct and misbehaviour. After wide outcry, school, police and political authorities took note of the allegations, which ultimately led to the teacher's arrest.

On June 8, reports said yet another teacher was arrested on charges of harassing a female student. Maharishi Vidya Mandir had suspended J Anand in May after students took to social media to voice complaints of sexual harassment. The police filed a case against him under POCSO and arrested him.