B’luru Scientist Accused of Sexually Harassing 4 PhD Scholars

The PhD aspirants have alleged that the scientist withheld their results when they refused his advances.

Police have registered a case under section 354 A for sexual harassment.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

Four PhD scholars have filed a sexual harassment case against a senior scientist at Bengaluru’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

In an email to the city police commissioner, the scholars alleged that the harassment began in 2016. Commissioner T Suneel Kumar forwarded their complaint to the jurisdictional police station in Marathahalli.

A case under section 354A (Sexual Harassment) has been registered against the scientist and the investigation is underway. No arrests have been made so far.

The four students in their complaint have alleged that the scientist used to call them individually into his chamber, stare at them and try to touch them inappropriately. In their complaint, they stated that their exam results were withheld by him when they refused his advances.

The scholars told the police that after not getting a positive response from the institute they wrote to the office of the Prime Minister.

They also approached BS Ugrappa, Chairman of Committee on Prevention of Atrocities and Sexual Violence Against Women and Children, with the help of an ex-bureaucrat.

However, when no action was taken against the scientist, they decided to approach the city police.

Abdul Ahad, DCP (Whitefield) said that earlier following the students' complaint to the institute, an internal committee was set up. However, the committee following an investigation, submitted a report to the head of the institute, claiming there was no sexual harassment.

The scholars appealed again and another committee was set up, which also submitted a report favouring the scientist. The officer said that the students then approached the police claiming they had no faith in the internal committee. “Marathahalli police are probing the case. The scientist is cooperating with us and no arrest has been made so far,” the DCP said.

“It is learnt that a complaint has been received at the Marthahalli police station against scientist working with us. In this regard, we wish to clarify that it’s an old case, which was already probed and the allegations raised by complainants were found to be of no merit,” read an official statement from the institute.

(#TalkingStalking: Have you ever been stalked? Share your experience with The Quint and inspire others to shatter the silence surrounding stalking. Send your stories to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone].)