NIRD assistant professor held on molestation charge

Dalit woman accuses him of sexual harassment

A 40-year-old assistant professor with National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (NIRD) was arrested by the Cyberabad police on charges of outraging the modesty of a Dalit woman.

This is the second incident of sexual harassment reported in the institute recently.

The accused, Satya Ranjan Mahakul, assistant professor in Centre for Equity And Social Development was produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

Following the complaint from an associate professor of the same Centre, the Rajendranagar police booked a case under Section 354 (outraging modesty of woman), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (offence of criminal intimidation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of Indian Penal Code against Mahakul. The accused was also booked under the Section 3(1) and 3(2) of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was registered on April 19 based on the woman’s complaint, Rajendranagar inspector G. Suresh said.

Speaking to The Hindu , the victim said that Mahakul joined the institution in September and started harassing her, who is his superior and head of the department, from November last year.

“Mahakul had outraged my modesty, sexually harassed me and also used to pass comments and use filthy language against me while discharging his duties,” the victim said. The woman claimed that she complained about this behaviour to NIRD Director General W.R. Reddy but in vain. “Instead of taking action against Mahakul, Mr Reddy issued showcause notice to me and expelled me from the post of HoD,” she said.

Efforts to contact Mr. Reddy proved futile.

On January 25, while she was in a meeting with Professor E.V. Prakash Rao inside his chambers, the accused entered the room and started physically assaulting her and pulled her hair, she said.

“Despite several complaints to Director General, Registrar and Secretary to Ministry of Rural Development no disciplinary action was taken against him. He was finally arrested by the police,” said the victim, who is working with the Institute for the past 16 years.