JNU molestation: Varsity reports matter to police, FIR lodged

A JNU professor, who was sacked last month for allegedly harassing a foreign scholar researching under him, has been booked for molestation after the university took the matter to police. Jawaharlal Nehru University had on December 21, terminated services of an assistant professor in the varsity's Department of Sociology after the Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH), the varsity's watchdog for dealing with such issues, found him guilty.

The complainant, a Bangladesh national, was pursuing research under the professor's supervision. "A case under Section 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of IPC has been registered on basis of the woman's statement which she had submitted before the university," said a police official.

After the professor was sacked, the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) had approached the administration demanding an FIR be registered against him as molestation is a criminal offence. Yesterday, the students also conducted a march from JNU campus to Vasant Kunj police station demanding an FIR be lodged.

While the university spokesperson did not comment on the issue saying the matter is "confidential", repeated calls and text messages to the professor for his comments on the issue went unanswered.