Winnipeg Catholic school teacher charged with sexual assault, luring involving teenage student

A Winnipeg teacher has been charged with sexual assault and exploitation after allegedly luring a teenage student. 

In March, Winnipeg police began investigating an incident involving the luring of a teenage girl, police said in a news release Thursday. 

Investigators allege Ketan Badiani, 58, who was a teacher at St. Maurice Parochial School in Fort Garry, used private messaging on social media to communicate with a student in her mid-teens between October 2024 and March 2025.

Police allege Badiani gained her trust and forged an inappropriate relationship with her.

On April 11, police arrested Badiani. He was charged with sexual assault, sexual exploitation and luring a person under 18 by telecommunication. 

Badiani was released on a court order prohibiting contact with anyone under 18.

Teacher's contract terminated in March

In a written statement, St. Maurice's executive director Bryan Doiron confirmed Badiani has worked as a high school math teacher since November 2019.

On March 17, a high school student reported "unprofessional behaviour" by a teacher, Doiron said, prompting school administration to immediately begin an internal investigation.

After an initial interview, Doiron said Badiani was escorted from the St. Maurice campus at around noon that same day, and was put on "indefinite off-site administrative leave." 

Badiani's employment contract with the school was terminated on March 20 after further investigation, Doiron said.

In his statement, the executive director said authorities and external agencies were advised, and the school is co-operating fully with investigators from the Winnipeg Police Service, Child and Family Services and the office of the Commissioner of Teacher Professional Conduct.

St. Maurice is a Catholic parochial school for students from kindergarten to Grade 12.