A West Bengal PhD student has levelled sexual harassment charges against an IIT Bhubaneswar Professor.
Besides, the woman alleged that the professor is mentally torturing her husband, who is also a PhD student in the IIT. The girl has sent a notice to the IIT Director through her lawyer in this regard. She has also written to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention in the matter.
“I have been a victim of sexual harassment since 2012, especially after my marriage in November 2012. Even my husband was mentally harassed by the Professor as he opposed my harassment following which he suffered brain haemorrhage. He was in coma for 10 days. Though I had approached all the top IIT officials, no one came to my rescue as the professor has a lot of influence,” the woman alleged.
Stating that such things should not have happened in an institution of such repute, she further stated that she was deeply hurt by the incident. Meanwhile, Skill Development and Technical Education Department Deputy Secretary PK Sarangi has sought a report from the IIT Director in connection with the case.
On the other hand, the IIT Bhubaneswar authorities have termed the allegations levelled by the student as ‘baseless’ In a Press release, the authorities claimed that the woman was admitted to IIT Bhubaneswar in July 2011 but brought the allegation of sexual harassment as late as on October 6, 2016.
The matter was then referred to the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). However, she was not satisfied with the report of the IIC and has now raised her voice once again for justice, says the release. “There is nothing pending with the institute and all statutory requirements have been completed holistically,” the release added.