A shocking incident in Mumbai where a teacher allegedly burned a student’s hands over poor handwriting, later claiming the child was upset due to academic pressure. Authorities are investigating.

Mumbai Tutor Burns Boy’s Hands Over Poor Handwriting, Lies About Cause

FIR Filed After Class III Student Found Crying With Burn Marks

Mumbai police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against a private tutor in Malad East after an eight‑year‑old boy was found with burns on his hands. The tutor allegedly used a candle to “brand” the boy’s palm and hands as punishment for his poor handwriting. The FIR was filed at Kurar Police Station on July 30, 2025 under sections of the Juvenile Justice Act and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.

What Happened: Sequence of Events

• The boy attends tuition twice a week, from 7 pm to 9 pm, at the accused tutor’s home in Malad East.
• On July 28, after the session, his elder sister went to pick him up at about 9 pm. She found him crying with visible burn marks on his right palm.
• When their father went to check later, he discovered additional injuries on the boy’s left hand as well.
• Confronted, the tutor allegedly did not deny the charges and reportedly claimed she was disciplining him. She initially told the family that the boy was “crying due to studies” and dismissed the injuries as drama.

Victim Details & Hospital Treatment

The victim is Mohammad Hamza Khan, a Class III student of Lakshdham School, living with his father (Mustaqin Khan), mother, and elder sister in Malad East. His father sells eggs in the local area. After noticing the injuries, Hamza was rushed to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivali West for treatment.

Legal Action & Investigation

Authorities have invoked child‑protection and criminal provisions under the Juvenile Justice Act and Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. The FIR includes charges of cruelty to a minor and voluntarily causing hurt. The police have confirmed that the accused tutor, Rajshree Rathod, has been arrested and an ongoing investigation is underway.

Investigators are recording statements from the injured child, his parents, and other students and families to determine if this was an isolated incident or part of a broader pattern.

Abuse in Tutoring: A Bigger Concern

While corporal punishment in official schools has been widely banned, private tuitions often escape proper regulation. This incident echoes past cases—such as the infamous 2022 Navi Mumbai episode where a tutor burnt a student over homework non‑revision using a lighter, causing a blister. That case also stemmed from an eight‑year‑old Class III pupil and resulted in legal action under cruelty laws.

Such patterns highlight how unmonitored tutoring environments can become grounds for abusive disciplinary practices. Child‑rights advocates emphasize the urgent need for oversight and redressal mechanisms in these informal educational setups.

Reactions & What Comes Next

Local residents and parents in Malad have expressed shock and outrage. Some neighbors noted that Rajshree Rathod had a reputation for harsh disciplinary methods, though no formal complaints had been filed earlier.

The Kurar police have assured the community that they will conduct a thorough, impartial probe. Medical reports from Hamza’s hospital visit will be vital for the prosecution’s case.

Educational and child‑welfare bodies are also expected to step in and examine wider monitoring of tuition centres—urging that tutors must be trained in child‑friendly pedagogies and barred from any physical or emotional abuse.

Summary Table

This deeply troubling case has highlighted the urgent need to reform how private tutors are regulated, monitored, and trained—ensuring that such violations of trust and child safety never happen again.

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