Hostel rector accused of sexually abusing boy over three years

Rajkot: The rector of a hostel run by a community organization, responsible for the care of young boys, abused his position by repeatedly sodomizing a boy — who is now 16 years old — over the past two years, according to an FIR filed in Palitana town of Bhavnagar district. The FIR was filed by the boy's father, who also gave investigators the names of other students who were allegedly abused by the rector. The accused rector is alleged to have blackmailed and committed unnatural acts with the boy, who had been enrolled in a school in Palitana and residing at the hostel for the past six years. The victim, who recently completed his Class 10 board exams, allegedly faced sexual abuse and intimidation from June 2024 onwards.The FIR was lodged on Wednesday by the boy's father at Palitana Town police station. The rector has been booked for assault under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), for aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and for cruelty to a child under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. According to the FIR, the boy's family lives in Rajkot. The abuse came to light on March 22 after the boy returned home after his board exams on March 18. A friend sent the father a WhatsApp message written in the victim's name, describing how the rector had allegedly been blackmailing and abusing the boy. When confronted by his family, the boy detailed prolonged sexual abuse that allegedly began around June 20, 2024. He told investigators that the rector exploited the family's financial vulnerability, assaulted him and sexually abused him at various locations in the hostel, including the prayer hall, classroom and terrace. The complaint stated that the frequency of the abuse increased during his crucial board exam year, with one particularly heinous incident on March 12, 2026. The victim stated that the rector would call him to his private residence to commit these acts, ensuring there were no CCTV cameras present. He further said that details of one such instance of abuse were indirectly conveyed to a trustee of the institution. Deputy superintendent of police Mihir Bariya of Palitana said, "The victim's father has provided the names of some fellow students who were also allegedly abused. Given that most students have returned home after their exams, they will be called in with their parents to record statements, strictly in adherence to Pocso Act guidelines."After the allegations surfaced, the rector allegedly attempted suicide and is currently being treated in Surendranagar.