St Stephen's molestation case: DCW writes to Smriti Irani

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal on Wednesday wrote to HRD Minister Smriti Irani regarding the molestation of a research scholar at St Stephen's College here, a DCW official said.

She sought information on the orders issued to Delhi University and the University Grant Commission (UGC) for ensuring unhindered completion of the victim's PhD, the official said.

Maliwal said: "Through media reports I gather that you (Irani) have given certain orders to ensure unhindered completion of the victim's PhD to Delhi University and UGC among other agencies. I would highly appreciate if you could provide the commission copies of the orders at the earliest."

"This will help the commission in dealing with this case with greater precision and aid in providing relief to the complainant," Maliwal wrote in the letter. This move came after the victim met the DCW chief on Wednesday.

In the meeting, the girl provided some new audio evidence related to the case to the commission. A DCW official said the commission would meet the girl again next week after gathering all the evidence and getting a report from DU.

A research scholar at St. Stephen's College had accused the college's chemistry professor Satish Kumar of sexually harassing her during the course of her PhD work.

She had also released a voice recording about a purported conversation with the college's principal Valson Thampu and Satish Kumar and alleged that the principal was seeking to protect the professor while trying to dissuade her from filing a complaint.

The victim had approached the DCW which had issued summons to Thampu and Satish Kumar earlier this month.