A former teacher at a private school in Fort Garry has been charged with sexual assault of an underage student.
The Winnipeg Police Service’s child abuse unit started investigating an incident involving the luring of a teenage girl last month.
Police said the man, who was employed as a teacher at St. Maurice Parochial School, engaged in an “inappropriate relationship” with a student between October 2024 and March of this year.
Police allege 58-year-old Ketan Badiani inappropriately communicated with the girl through private messaging on a social media platform and gained her trust.
In an email, Bryan Doiron, the executive director of St. Maurice School, told CTV News Badiani was employed as a high school math teacher beginning in November 2019.
Doiron said a student came forward with allegations against Badiani on March 17.
“The employee was placed on indefinite off-site administrative leave after the initial interview, and he was escorted from the campus around noon that same day,” Doiron wrote.
He said Badiani’s employment contract was terminated on March 20 following further investigation and consultation.
“The appropriate agencies and authorities were advised, and [St. Maurice] School is cooperating with the investigations,” Doiron wrote.
WPS investigators arrested Badiani on April 11 without incident.
He’s charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation, and luring a person under 18 years of age by means of telecommunication.
He was released on a court order prohibiting him from contacting minors.
None of the charges have been tested in court.
