UP Principal Accused Of Mistreating Boy For Bringing Biryani To School Cleared; Committee Finds Viral Video Was Doctored

A three-member inquiry committee investigating the allegation that a Class 3 student in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, was expelled for bringing non-vegetarian biryani in his tiffin has cleared the principal of any wrongdoing.

The committee also dismissed claims that the principal had physically assaulted the student and confined him to a solitary room for three hours before expelling him on 5 September, citing a lack of corroborating evidence.

The controversy erupted last week after a video of a conversation between the principal and the student’s mother went viral, sparking protests by members of the Muslim Committee in the district.

The student's mother had accused the principal of hitting her son, locking him in a solitary room as punishment, and calling him a "terrorist." In response to the public outcry, a three-member committee was formed.

On Monday (9 September), the committee submitted its findings to District Magistrate Rajesh Tyagi. It mentioned that the viral video was doctored but recommended the principal avoid 'such harsh language'.

After talking to 22 guardians of students, going through the CCTV footage of the day, and examining the school register, the committee arrived at the conclusion that neither was he expelled from school nor was he beaten up.

Some parents also revealed that the class 3 boy had been "acting weirdly for the last two months". The principal in his defence said that the student was not expelled but his mother said she would get him admitted to another school.

"They have not paid the school fees since April and I asked them to clear dues worth Rs 50,000 following which she created a drama and made the video of our conversation," he told The Indian Express.

Regarding bringing non-veg biryani, the principal explained that it is prohibited in the school’s code of conduct but the student had done this thrice recently despite being warned.

"He had biryani in his tiffin on August 31 and was offering the same to his classmates. This was objected to by parents of other students," he explained while the mother alleged school of mistreating the boy.