The anticipatory bail of the St. Stephen’s professor, accused of molesting his research student, was dismissed on Tuesday by a lower court.
Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg dismissed the bail petition after hearing the prosecutor’s arguments that the accused was in a position of authority, having sole control over the student’s Ph.D, and that he had in fact, tampered with evidence in the past.
Satish Kumar, an assistant professor in the chemistry department, has claimed that the charges against him were concocted. His lawyers, however, said that he was willing to join the investigation and that there was no need to arrest him. He also said that the victim had given different versions in three different complaints and that the number of allegations had increased with every complaint.
The prosecutor, Sunil J Mathews, contended that she had been molested on October 15, 2013, in the chemistry laboratory and after this incident, the accused had started to stalk her, calling her mobile close to 25 times.
He also said that the custodial interrogation of the accused was necessary since the police need to check his call records.
The counsel for the accused said that the accused could not have molested or stalked the victim since he was 85 per cent disabled and walked with the help of a stick. The professor, who is also the bursar of the college, is accused of withholding the stipend of the student for the past few months. It was also stated by the prosecution that he had threatened to throw sulphuric acid on her if she refused to wear a saree of a particular colour.
The bail plea was also opposed on the grounds that the accused made offensive statements under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (punishment for sexual harassment) of the IPC.
The defence counsel said that the accused could not have molested or stalked the victim since he was 85% disabled
and walked with the help of a stick
