Patiala court grants bail to Atul Johri

The Patiala House Courts on Tuesday granted bail to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Atul Johri, who is accused of sexually harassing female students. Johri was out on bail hours after he was arrested by the police on charges of sexual harassment. The magistrate granted the bail and directed him to furnish a bail bond of Rs 30,000 for each of the eight FIRs registered against him. Johri had moved a bail plea saying sending him to jail would spoil his career.

On Tuesday, 54 JNU professors had demanded registration of separate FIRs on all eight sexual harassment complaints against Johri. They had also petitioned Deputy Commissioner of Police (south-west) Milind Dumbere's office in this regard.

At least nine women have now filed FIRs against Professor Atul Johri from the School of Life Sciences, accusing him of sexual harassment. The students have deemed the suspension of the professor as important because he continues to hold several academic and administrative posts and also that there is a possibility of his interference with the investigation that is yet to be conducted against him.