Police file chargesheet against Allahabad University professor facing rape allegations by student

A student union of the university has called for the arrest and termination of service of the assistant professor.

In February this year, an FIR under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the 31-year-old assistant professor on the complaint of the female student alleging harassment for the past one year.

She alleged that the accused started making inappropriate advances after she rejected his proposal for marriage in 2022. He began continuously calling and sending her messages on mobile phone, she said, adding when she blocked his number he would use other phone numbers to contact her.

The complainant said that he also tried to manipulate her emotionally by falsely claiming to be suffering from cancer.

The situation escalated when he threatened to take his own life if she refused to visit his residence, it was further alleged. The woman stated that he persuaded her to accompany him to his home by threatening self-harm and citing inappropriateness of a public meeting between a teacher and a student. She alleged that once at his residence, he sexually assaulted her. When she prepared to leave the next day, the accused reportedly issued threats, warning her with dire consequences if she revealed the incident to anyone.

The student said that she filed a police complaint after no action was taken against the accused despite her lodging a complaint with the university authorities.

Abhinav Mishra, a student leader belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), said that the police filing a chargesheet against the assistant professor vindicates the allegations.

“We demand an immediate arrest of the assistant professor, and urge the university authorities to sack him from the job. If they fail to take action against him, we will hold a protest,” Mishra added.