Hyd school that expelled kids over parents’ WhatsApp group now caught in bribery row

A man, allegedly from the school, told a reporter of a Telugu TV channel that he would give him cash if the channel didn’t air the matter.
Hyd school that expelled kids over parents’ WhatsApp group now caught in bribery row
Hyd school that expelled kids over parents’ WhatsApp group now caught in bribery row
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Even as the Gaudium School in Hyderabad faces allegations that it expelled 3 students because their parents were part of a WhatsApp group that discussed the welfare of their children in the institute, it landed in yet another controversy on Saturday.

According to reports, the school also tried to allegedly bribe the correspondent of a Telugu TV media outlet to not report the story.

ABN Telugu reported that a crew from their channel went to the school on Friday, after the allegations broke out, but had to return unsuccessfully as the authorities did not give them any information.

However, as they were leaving, the channel's correspondent said that they received a call from an anonymous number, where a man asked them not to air the allegations against the school and said that he was willing to strike a deal. 

ABN said that the man introduced himself as Srinivas, and met the channel's correspondent at a coffee shop in Gachibowli.

The correspondent recorded the entire meeting in a sting operation.

The man is seen asking for the channel’s 'cooperation' and promising to help if the correspondent needed anything in the future.

He is then seen taking out an envelope and placing it on the table, adding that it had Rs 50,000 in it. The correspondent is seen refusing the money and saying that he will call Srinivas later.

Background

“Greetings from the Gaudium School! With a heavy heart, we are informing you that we had to terminate a couple of children from the Gaudium School with immediate effect, due to the misconduct of parents for being disrespectful towards the teachers and the Principal.”

This was the message that was sent out to at least 2 parents on February 6 after the school in Hyderabad’s Kollur area terminated at least 3 students.

Hinting at the WhatsApp groups that the parents were a part of, the school said in a statement:

“The school has been informing you from time to time during orientations that we have an open door policy to discuss your concerns in a right approach. At times, you get influenced by the issues that are not pertaining to you in social groups, resulting in worry and anxiety about your child that leads to negativity towards your child’s school. It is a vicious trap that your child finally gets penalised for (sic).”

The school claimed that it was always open to suggestions, adding that it was an ‘unethical’ move by the parents to be part of such a WhatsApp group.

“It was pathetic to listen to our primary geckos (students) who approached our Principal, complaining about each other’s parents by bringing up the conversations that the parents are having among themselves in the social group. It is very ironical that the children are reading WhatsApp messages and bringing up the discussions with their teachers, classmates and bus mates, leading to ugly situations,” the school said.

In a press release issued later, the school claimed that the parents had been aggressive, and had walked off with their children. However, it did not respond to allegations on the WhatsApp group.

TNM has contacted the school over the latest allegations, and awaits a response. 

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