A private tuition teacher in Navi Mumbai has come under scrutiny after allegedly assaulting a Class 8 student for not memorising multiplication tables. The incident reportedly occurred in Gothivali village, where the educator is accused of physically punishing the minor during a study session. The matter surfaced after the student informed her family about the alleged assault, prompting concern over the use of corporal punishment in private coaching classes. The case has sparked outrage among locals, with questions being raised about student safety and the disciplinary methods adopted in home-run tuition centres across the region.
The teacher, identified as Rupali Thavi, is accused of striking the girl nearly 20 times on her hand using a wooden roti-flipping tong. According to the complaint filed by the family, the repeated blows caused visible swelling, reddish marks, and intense pain. The student, who has reportedly been attending the tuition classes for around five years, was taken for medical evaluation after the incident. Although an X-ray examination did not reveal any fracture, the family maintains that the physical and emotional distress suffered by the child was significant.
The student’s mother, Poonam Wadke, approached the local police station to formally register a complaint. In her statement, she alleged that the tuition sessions are conducted at the teacher’s residence and that students had been instructed to memorise multiplication tables. When her daughter was unable to recite them correctly, the teacher allegedly resorted to severe punishment. The family further claimed that upon confrontation, the teacher defended her actions, stating that the child did not study seriously and that other students had also faced similar disciplinary measures.
Police have since registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter. Authorities are carrying out a medical examination of the student and recording statements from other children who attend the same tuition class to verify the allegations. Meanwhile, the Thane District Child Protection Department has stepped in, citing the gravity of the complaint. Officials have indicated that appropriate action may be taken under child protection laws depending on the outcome of the inquiry, underscoring the seriousness with which such cases of alleged abuse are being treated.