Karnataka school headmaster and teacher arrested over sexual abuse, failure to report

Chikkamagaluru Police arrested a teacher and a headmaster of a higher primary school in Kadur taluk on Saturday (June 20, 2026) following allegations of sexual abuse on the school campus.

Teacher K.S. Nagarajappa has been accused of sexually abusing students, while Headmaster Lokeshappa faces charges of failing to report the allegations to authorities, as mandated by law. The Department of School Education has suspended both individuals.

According to police, village residents complained to the headmaster about the teacher’s conduct with students. The headmaster convened a meeting of the School Development and Management Committee but did not file a police complaint. When residents pressed the issue, they confronted the headmaster about his inaction despite being informed of the allegations.

Members of the Child Welfare Committee and Block Education Officer M.H. Thimmaiah visited the school on Friday (June 19, 2026). Mr. Thimmaiah subsequently filed a complaint with the police, and the case was registered under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Mr. Thimmaiah said the headmaster should have immediately reported the matter to senior education officials and filed a police complaint. “The headmaster failed in his mandatory duty to report. The police have arrested both the teacher and headmaster, and we have suspended them with immediate effect,” he told The Hindu.