A St. Stephen’s PhD student has accused a professor of the college of sexual harassment.
She has also alleged that Principal Valson Thampu tried to protect the professor when the matter was reported to the college authorities.
The student is doing her PhD in the chemistry department. She has lodged an FIR against him alleging that she was sexually harassed by him.
“An FIR has been registered against the accused professor Satish Kumar under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and other relevant sections of the IPC against the accused in connection with the complaint,” a senior police officer said.
“The victim in her complaint has alleged that the professor harassed her while she was working with him in college. She also said that the college Principal tried to stop her from going to the police and instead forced her to end the matter in the college itself in order to not cause any delay or problems in completion of her PhD,” he added.
Mr. Thampu has, however, not been named in the FIR. Mr. Thampu denied allegations, adding, the matter has been referred to the college’s internal complaint committee.
