2 assistant professors suspended for sexual harassment bid

The victim, a research scholar, had lodged an FIR late on Monday against the two teachers of Physics department under whom she was doing her PhD. In her complaint, she alleged that her guide Dr R K Singhal and co-guide Dr S N Dolia had tried to harass her sexually in a class room for signing thesis, in February.

Police have already arrested Singhal and were questioning Dolia to ascertain his role in the alleged incident. "Both the teachers were suspended today under section 357 of the university ordinance and a two-member committee headed by a retired judge of High Court V S Dave was constituted to probe the matter. They were suspended on the basis of the FIR lodged against them," a university official said.

"The university-appointed women's committee to probe sexual misconduct at workplace will also carry out its investigation into the matter," he added. The girl has also alleged that the duo were having her obscene picture prepared by trick photography and they used to blackmail her by threatening to make it public, the police said.
"Singhal was arrested last night while Dolia is being questioned to ascertain his role," a senior police official said.

"Prima facie, there is no evidence of involvement of the assistant guide and we are questioning him to verify the allegations," he added.