Representative image showing 'stop sexual harassment' written on a board.
Credit: iStock Photo
Shivamogga: Shivamogga police have arrested Dr Ashwin Hebbar, an assistant professor at the Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), in connection with a sexual harassment case involving a PG student.
SIMS Principal Virupakshappa told DH that Dr Ashwin, other staff members and students of SIMS had gone to a hotel for a dinner party. It is learnt that Ashwin misbehaved with a student in the party.
He said that the postgraduate student had complained to the college’s internal complaint review department in this regard.
Accordingly, Ashwin was served a notice and asked to appear for questioning.
“After the FIR was registered at the women’s police station, he has been absent from the college unauthorisedly,” the principal said.
The People’s Lawyers Guild Association had demanded Ashwin’s arrest.
The association office-bearer K P Sripal told reporters that despite an FIR being registered against Ashwin, the police had not arrested him.
“He should be arrested immediately without yielding to any pressure. The SIMS administration should not protect him,” he said.
Ashwin has also been accused of sexually harassing a female student three years ago. But the assistant professor had approached the court in the old case and had got a stay order on further action.
Ashwin was absconding after a case was registered against him, until he was arrested on Friday.