Teacher's evidence key to convicting driver of LKG student's rape

 Hyderabad: The evidence given by a teacher played a key role in convicting a school driver, Bheemani Rajani Kumar, of raping an LKG student on the school premises in Banjara Hills in October 2022, sources said.

On Tuesday, the convict, who worked as the driver to the principal, was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

The teacher, one among 12 witnesses examined by the court, detailed how the accused would habitually close classroom doors of the lab where digital classes were held, as he helped set up the equipment.

The teacher said that she had also asked the convict not to close the doors, but he continued to do so, under the pretext of taking students to classes.

Although there was no eyewitness in the incident, the victim’s statement made it clear to the court that she was raped in the digital classroom.

The teacher’s evidence was considered circumstantial and helped convict the accused as it corroborated the victim’s statement. This was also supported by medical and technical evidence.