‘I am Dawood Ibrahim’ Says St Stephens Principal Valson Thampu

St. Stephen’s Principal Valson Thampu lashes out. Says, ‘being hounded like an animal’ in sexual harassment case.

St Stephen’s Principal Valson Thampu (Photo: ANI)

St. Stephen’s college principal Valson Thampu compared himself to Dawood Ibrahim on Thursday for being ‘hounded’ by the people with vested interests and media.

A research scholar from St. Stephen’s college had alleged that she was molested by an assistant professor in the college’s Chemistry department.

She also claimed that Thampu has been shielding Kumar and has pressurized her to withdraw her complaint.

I am Dawood Ibrahim. If others are free to morph me into an object of aversion... I am also free to project myself in an extremely self-denigrating image... for the support it might lend to now sagging efforts of the vested interests as well as the media.
— Rev Valson Thampu, Principal, St. Stephen’s College

Calling Dawood Ibrahim, the underworld don, the ultimate embodiment of aversions, he stood firm by his statements in the molestation case.

A section of students, college’s alumni and women rights groups has been pressing for his resignation in the wake of the controversy.

Thampu, the accused professor and the research scholar were summoned on Wednesday by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).

The issue was discussed at length during the three-hour long meeting.

Thampu, who has been embroiled in controversies ever since he took over as the college principal in 2008, had earlier said he would resign if “it is objectively proved that he is an embarrassment to the institution”.

I conveyed the same to the DCW chief too. Getting the research scholar’s supervisor changed and facilitating her compounds is not in my domain. But I have told the commission that if slightest of lapse is found on my part during the probe, it should recommend to the college’s Supreme Council that my services be terminated.

Thampu is due to retire from the post in February 2016.

Controversies like allegations of forced conversion of an administrative officer to Christianity, fake degree used for his appointment, banning of e-zine for not seeking permission on content and shielding a professor accused of sexual harassment of a research scholar, have rocked the college from time to time.

Thampu, however, has maintained that no other institution in the world has been subjected to such “harassment” but it is strong enough to withstand 1,000 other controversies.

(With Inputs from PTI)