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A Hathras professor dodged rape allegations in 2023; a pen drive and an anonymous complaint have now blown the case wide open

The professor, Rajnish Kumar, was booked by the Hathras police on Saturday for allegedly raping several women students and filming the act. He is currently on the run.

4 min readHathrasUpdated: Mar 20, 2025 01:37 PM IST

Prof dodged rape allegations in 2023; case resurfaces after an anonymous complaint

In 2023, the college had also appointed an internal complaints committee to probe the allegations.

The alleged sexual abuse of students by the 54-year-old head of department and chief proctor of a government-aided college in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras was flagged to the college and district administration in October 2023, only to be brushed under the carpet – until an anonymous complainant gained the courage to blow the lid off the case last month.

The professor, Rajnish Kumar, was booked by the Hathras police on Saturday for allegedly raping several women students and filming the act. He is currently on the run.

Officials The Indian Express spoke to said a letter, purportedly written by a college student, was submitted to the District Magistrate in October 2023, first flagging the alleged incidents.

“Following the complaint, the then District Magistrate formed a committee to probe the matter, but its report was never made public,” said an official.

When The Indian Express contacted the current Hathras District Magistrate, Rahul Pandey, he said he was not aware of the committee and the matter came to his knowledge a couple of days ago. “We have formed a (new) committee to probe the matter, which includes the Basic Sikhsha Adhikari, the Circle Officer, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and a woman tehsildar,” said Pandey.

In 2023, the college had also appointed an internal complaints committee to probe the allegations. Principal Dr Mahavir Singh Chonkar, however, told The Indian Express the allegations could not be proved. “The girl who had filed the complaint told us someone had used her identity to file the complaint and that she was never sexually assaulted by the professor,” claimed Chonkar.

He claimed the woman also signed an affidavit confirming this and saying the complaint was filed to tarnish the reputation of the college and the professor.

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Some students The Indian Express spoke to recalled that the teachers had asked them if the professor had ever misbehaved with them, and they had to sign a sheet of paper stating he hadn’t.

In August 2024, Kumar was appointed as the Chief Proctor of the college, giving him even more power than he wielded as a head of department. In fact, he has also been heading the college teachers association since 2023.

While Kumar managed to survive the last round of allegations, on February 15, the district administration received a fresh complaint. This time, however, it was accompanied by purported videos and photos of the sexual abuse. “Two complaints were filed – one with the National Commission for Women and the other with the district administration,” an official said.

According to the police, the complaints were anonymous, with the complainant writing that she anticipated a threat to her life. “We began an enquiry into the matter,” said Superintendent of Police, Hathras, Chriranjeev Nath Sinha, adding that an FIR was eventually filed on March 13 under sections of rape, sexual intercourse by a person in authority and the IT Act.

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Officials say they believe the videos go back four to five years and at least six students may have been targeted.

On March 15, the college administration suspended Kumar from all positions, Chonkar said.

According to the principal, Kumar was appointed as an assistant professor in February 2001 and promoted to head of the department in 2016.

“He was an alumnus of Aligarh Muslim University and was appointed by the Uttar Pradesh Uchchatar Shiksha Sewa Aayog,” Chonkar said.

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Sinha, the Hathras Superintendent of Police, said Kumar allegedly sexually assaulted women under the pretext of helping them get jobs or pass exams. “He allegedly recorded videos and uploaded them on websites,” the SP said.

According to police, some of the purported videos appear to have been shot in his department. Sources said he had stored them in a pen drive, which he forgot in college one day, blowing the case wide open.

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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