Police commissioner Satyapal Singh has said the rape charge against the school bus cleaner, who allegedly molested a nursery student on Tuesday, would be dropped. The Juhu police will be filing an application in court to drop the rape charge.

Explaining why, Vishwas Nangre-Patil, additional commissioner of police (west region), said, "The accused has already been booked under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act that will ensure he does not get off lightly. That's why it was decided to drop the rape charge."

Asked why the rape charge had been applied against Ramesh Rajput, Patil said, "As per recommendations of the Supreme Court judgment in the Sakshi vs Union Of India And Others case, we could apply the rape charge. Keeping in mind the gravity of the offence, we charged the accused for rape as well."

Rajput was arrested on Thursday  and the police are now investigating if a woman attendant was present in the school bus, which should have been the case as per the school bus norms.

The police have so far found some contradictions in the female attendant's version of events. The police have also recorded the statement of the bus driver.

The incident happened on Tuesday, when Rajput allegedly touched the child inappropriately. The next day the girl informed her parents, who in turn informed the school authorities and approached the Juhu police.

A case of molestation was registered. Rajput is in police custody till February 1.