Four temporary teaching staff of the Government Arts and Science College at Valparai in Coimbatore district were arrested late on Saturday (August 31, 2024) on charges of sexually harassing at least six girls.
The police said assistant professors S. Satheeshkumar, 39, and M. Muraliraj, 33, attached to the Commerce Department; lab technician Anbarasu, 37, and skill course trainer N. Rajapandi, 35, were arrested based on a complaint from District Social Welfare Officer R. Ambika.
The arrested persons have been accused of sending inappropriate messages to the girls on WhatsApp, and harassing them in other ways during class, and at the lab. The girls had sent a petition to the State Women’s Commission, based on which the District Social Welfare Officer was tasked to conduct an inquiry, the police added.
They further said that Ms. Ambika and V. Kalaiselvi, Regional Joint Director of collegiate education, Coimbatore, conducted an inquiry on the campus on Friday. The students narrated their ordeal to the officials, based on which Ms. Ambika lodged a complaint with the police.
The four persons were booked under Section 75 (1) (sexual harassment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 4 (penalty for harassment of women) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act. A team led by inspector M. Menega (in-charge of AWPS, Valparai), arrested them.
They were produced before a magistrate for judicial remand on Sunday.
