Gargi College Molestation Case: 2 More Held; 17 Arrested in Total

The students of the college had alleged that a group of men had gatecrashed the annual fest and molested them.

The students had alleged that a group of men had gatecrashed the annual fest and molested them. Students hold protest demanding answers from the Gargi administration.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Two more men were arrested on Tuesday, 18 February, in connection with the alleged molestation of students during a cultural festival at the all-women Gargi College, taking the total number of people held in the case to 17, police said, according to PTI.

On 6 February, a group of men allegedly broke into the college and groped, harassed and molested girl students.

The attack took place during the college festival, ‘Reverie’.

Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre, Central Bureau of Investigation and Delhi Police, seeking their response to a petition seeking CBI probe into the allegations.

The court has listed the matter for hearing on 30 April.

A bench of justices G S Sistani and C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Centre and Central Bureau of Investigation on a plea filed by advocate ML Sharma.

The plea was filed on Thursday, 13 February, hours after the Supreme Court declined to entertain the petition and asked the petitioner to move the high court.

Sharma has sought the preservation of all video recordings and CCTV camera footage of the college campus in his plea.

The college filed a case with the police on 10 February, four days after the alleged incident, and after protests and call for action by the students.

The incident came to light after some students took to Instagram to narrate their ordeal and alleged that security personnel did nothing to control the unruly groups.

23 CCTVs Analysed, 11 Police Teams Work on Case

Delhi Police said that it has examined footage from 23 CCTV cameras installed at Gargi college, out of which three were focused on the ground where the fest – named ‘Reverie’ – was taking place.

Over 11 police teams were reportedly looking at the technical details available and also visiting various sites in NCR to identify the suspects and investigate the case.

The initial probe established that the college was at fault, for not informing the police about the festival.

A case was registered at the Hauz Khas police station under IPC sections 452 (House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrong­ful restraint), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

DU Issues Advisory on Safety of Women Students, Employees

The Delhi University issued an advisory to all principals to ensure safety of women employees and students involved in the incident.

The University also sought a report within two weeks on the measures taken by the colleges to ensure the safety of students on campus, it said in the advisory issued on 10 February.

“You are requested to take immediate steps to review the status of safety and security of females in your colleges, and accordingly prepare plans to strengthen their safety and security in consultation with the stakeholders, law enforcement agencies and social organisations working in the field,” the advisory to college principals reportedly said.

The college should ensure implementation of these plans in a transparent manner with an efficient monitoring mechanism in place, it added.

The Delhi University Registrar said in a statement that the University stands by the students of Gargi College in their fight against harassment, according to PTI.

"The university strongly condemns the said incident of hooliganism, trespass, and any act violating the modesty of students. The university earnestly appeals to the law enforcement agencies to take strong action against the culprits," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)