JNU Professor Atul Johri Detained in Connection With Sexual Harassment Case
Johri, a professor at the School of Life Sciences, has been teaching in JNU since 2004. In wake of the allegations levelled against him, he resigned from his posts in the Delhi University.
New Delhi, March 20: The Delhi Police on Monday detained Professor Atul Kumar Johri, who has been accused of sexual harassment by eight Jawaharlal National University (JNU) students. Earlier today, the Police began questioning Johri in connection with the case. Johri, a professor at the School of Life Sciences, has been teaching in JNU since 2004. In wake of the allegations levelled against him, he resigned from his posts in the Delhi University.
On Monday, the 54 JNU professors demanded registration of separate FIRs in all eight complaints of sexual harassment filed against Johri. The professors also accused the police of disregarding procedures. As per reports by PTI, they petitioned deputy commissioner of police (South-West) Milind Dumbere's office two days after the Delhi Police registered an FIR against professor Johri following allegations of sexual harassment by a group of women students.
The report further added that the teachers said eight complaints were filed by as many women students. However, the Delhi Police chose to register only one FIR based on only one of the complaints.
"Even though you have received 8 complaints, each of which reports incidents that are distinct and separated by space and time, you have chosen to register only one FIR under only one of the names. We are shocked to learn this as the law requires that a separate FIR is registered for each complaint," the petition said.
Students of School of Life Sciences, with which Prof Johri is associated, have locked down the school demanding his arrest. For the past four days, the JNU Students Union which has been protesting demanding arrest of the professor. The students, who marched to the Vasant Kunj Police Station on Monday accused Police of “inaction” in the matter. The Police, however, said that investigation in the case was underway.
Meanwhile, a clash broke out between police and protesting students of JNU in front of Vasant Kunj Police Station “Four days after eight women students came forward with sexual harassment complaints against the professor, no action has been taken against him and just one FIR has been lodged,” Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) vice-president Simone Zoya Khan said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 20, 2018 05:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).