Agri college dean held for caste abuse

Police have arrested Hassan Agriculture college dean Dr Vasantha Shetty for allegedly caste abusing and harassing his colleague, in Hassan on Friday.

Acting on the complaint lodged by the college’s assistant lecturer Devaraja Nayak, police arrested Vasanth and produced him before the magistrate, who subjected him to one day judicial custody.

Nayak had lodged a complaint on the dean alleging that Vasanth Shetty has been  abusing him on caste lines and also harassing him in many ways. He had wanted to pursue research and when he asked the dean’s permission, the latter had allegedly certified that Devaraja was “not fit for research”.

Nayak of Arsikere in Hassan district was transferred to government veterinary college in Bidar, eight months ago. He had lost one of his limbs in a rail mishap and had requested for a transfer to Hassan college.

When police came to arrest Shetty on Thursday, he had complained of uneasiness and had requested for a check-up. The government hospital doctor Harshavardhan had given a clean chit, citing he is perfectly healthy.

He again complained of chest pain and collapsed, when the judge was pronouncing one day judicial custody. He was again shifted to government hospital where the doctors suggested him to get admitted. He was later discharged on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Shetty had applied for bail, which has been rejected by the judge and he has been remanded to judicial custody.

The judge has also issued a notice to Dr Harshavardhan of the government hospital asking him to provide complete details on the health condition of Shetty.