VJTI professor accused of harassment: Inquiry panel set up to investigate student’s ‘sexual assault’ charge

Following an internal complaints committee report, a case of sexual harassment was registered in the Matunga police station on May 28. The professor was arrested and released on bail later.

The DTE has also set up an independent inquiry into the matter, said DTE director Abhay Wagh. “As soon as the matter came to our notice, we issued a letter to the institute and set up a committee to look into the allegations,” said Wagh. Wagh told The Indian Express that the professor was suspended on May 31 after the internal complaints committee submitted its report.

On May 28, a case of sexual harassment was registered after the student, along with her father, approached Matunga police station.

Pramod Naik, the joint director of Mumbai zone, is heading the committee. “We are now awaiting a report from the committee, which is due soon. Our further course of action will be decided based on the findings of the committee,” said Wagh.

According to the police, the accused had called the victim to his cabin on May 18. The student wanted the professor’s signature on her summer term’s form and had queued up outside his cabin. Initially, she was asked to wait but later around 5.15 pm she was called inside the cabin.

The student has alleged that when she handed him the form, the accused got up from his chair and touched her inappropriately. She has further accused the professor of forcefully kissing her.

The student told the police that she pushed the accused and ran out of the cabin.

Accompanied by her father, the student met the director of the institute, who then asked them to write a letter narrating the incident.