Inquiry report indicts BU professor for molesting PhD student

Bangalore University (BU) has accepted an inquiry report which confirms the allegation of sexual harassment against an associate professor of Kannada at its Kolar postgraduate centre.

The report, which was placed before the university’s syndicate at its meeting here on Monday, confirms the allegation against the associate professor, Ka Vem Srinivas Murthy.

In March this year, a PhD student at the Kolar PG centre had complained to the university authorities that Murthy, her guide, was sexually harassing her, prompting the varsity to form an inquiry committee to dig out the truth.

At the Syndicate meeting which decided the promotion of the university’s staff, Prof Murthy’s promotion was kept pending in the wake of the inquiry report.

No further action, however, has been initiated against him as the university wants to seek legal opinion before going ahead with any action, according to Vice-Chancellor Prof B Thimme Gowda.

At the meeting, the university approved promotion of 76 associate professors to the posts of professors and 41 assistant professors to the posts of associate professors.