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IIT Jodhpur professor sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping former student in Noida

A Noida court found the prosecution's evidence credible and dismissed the accused's claims regarding the delay in filing the FIR.

2 min readDelhiUpdated: Dec 3, 2025 05:49 PM IST

IIT Jodhpur professor sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping former student in Noida

Vivek Vijay Vargia was a faculty member in the department of mathematics at IIT Jodhpur from February 2009 to December 2024. (File Photo)

A Noida fast-track court Monday sentenced an assistant professor at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 for raping a former student in 2019 when she was 35 years old.

Vivek Vijay Vargia was a faculty member in the department of mathematics at IIT Jodhpur from February 2009 to December 2024. Vargia knew the woman, as he had taught her for a brief period in 2000. The two met again in 2011, when she was hired for a contractual job in February 2011 at the same institute and began looking for better career options.

The rape case against Vargia, then 45, was registered at a Noida police station on June 6, 2019. The woman in her complaint told the police that he raped her when she went to meet him for a job at the GAIL guesthouse in Noida’s Film City that day.

The police arrested Vargia the next day from Noida’s Sector 16 metro station and filed a chargesheet on September 25, 2019.

On November 27, Additional Sessions Judge Priyanka Kumari found Vargia guilty of raping the woman and denied the contention behind the six-hour delay in the FIR.

“In this case, testimony showed that the police arrived at the scene soon after the incident and that the delay in formally registering the FIR occurred at the police station, not due to the victim’s hesitation,” the order read.

During the hearing, the court found the statements of prosecution witnesses consistent and credible and held that their testimony supported the prosecution’s account that the accused had called the woman to a guest house on the pretext of a job offer, after which the assault occurred.

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Rejecting the accused’s claim that the woman never visited the guest house, the court relied on the cumulative evidence to establish his presence and involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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