Stephen’s sexual assault: Complainant hands over ‘recordings of meetings’

The audio recordings are reportedly of meetings the research scholar had on January 7, 9 and 10 with the accused Dr Satish Kumar and Principal Valson Thampu in the latter’s office.

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“We have submitted the complainant’s phone to the police which has all the audio recordings and SMSes. It took us this long because the phone was still being used and it took time for us to back up the data,” said Anju Rani, the complainant’s lawyer. She claimed that the audio recordings proved that Thampu’s version of events was a lie. “In the last 10 days or so, the principal has put out a version which has now been completely demolished by the evidence,” she added.

According to the audio recordings, the veracity of which has not been established, Thampu supposedly told the complainant that she had a choice between registering a complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the college or withdrawing her complaint. He allegedly pushed her to take back her complaint by saying that the first option would attract media attention.

The recordings also seem to suggest that both Thampu and Kumar told the complainant that they would make sure her PhD is completed on time. There is also a reference to Thampu allegedly telling the research scholar that she should stay happy, start afresh, put the past behind her and recognise that human beings have limitations.

Despite repeated attempts, Thampu could not be reached for a comment. Media Advisor of St Stephen’s College Karen Gabriel said she had no knowledge of the matter and could not comment on the issue. Meanwhile, Kumar has sought anticipatory bail from the Delhi High Court after his bail plea was denied by a trial court on June 23.

The research scholar had approached the police on June 19, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by her guide and that Thampu had pressurised her into taking back her complaint from the college’s internal committee.

Thampu has maintained that he never pushed her to withdraw her complaint.