Hathras college rape case: Principal held for criminal intimidation
Speaking to The Indian Express, Superintendent of Police (Hathras) Chiranjeev Nath Sinha said the investigators found that several complaints of sexual exploitation by the professor were made to the principal by women students. 'But he (the college principal) threatened them, accusing them of trying to defame the college. He also threatened the students of ruining their career. He not only scolded the victims, but also drove them out of his office,' the SP said.
'No action was taken by the principal even when he was informed about the videos the accused professor shot with the students and continued to promote him. When this matter first came to light in 2023 through an application, he disregarded the UGC rules and regulations on preventing sexual harassment and made a junior lecturer from the accused professor's department the chairman of the investigation committee. So, effectively, no action could be taken against the accused professor,' the SP said.
'Despite knowing about the sexual exploitation of the victims, the accused professor was made the chief proctor so that the accused could sexually harass the girls by putting mental pressure on them and the victims could not complain to any competent authority,' read an official statement issued by Hathras police.
The accused professor was arrested from Prayagraj on March 19. He was booked for rape, and under the provision of the Information Technology Act.
Hathras District Magistrate Rahul Pandey had earlier said that a committee comprising the Basic Sikhsha Adhikari, the Circle Officer, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and a woman tehsildar has been formed to probe the matter. 'They are finalizing the report and the report will be submitted soon,' Pandey told The Indian Express.
'The committee members went to college and spoke to students. When we received the complaint this time, it was along with evidence and indisputable,' he added.
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