Karnataka: Chikkamagaluru medical student accuses training faculty member of sexual harassment

Reacting to the allegations, the accused doctor said, “My name is being tarnished over issues related to attendance and marks. Students who score less are required to take supplementary exams. There is no truth in these allegations. I also have screenshots that I will present at the appropriate time.”

Chikkamagaluru: A student of the Chikkamagaluru Institute of Medical Sciences has accused a teaching faculty member of sexually harassing her and submitted a complaint with the police.

In her complaint, she alleged that Dr Gangadhar sent her indecent messages and denied her attendance after she refused to comply with his demands. As a result, she claimed she was unable to write her examinations. A video of her statement has since gone viral on social media.

Meanwhile, members of the college’s teaching faculty visited the SP’s office and submitted a memorandum requesting that the video’s circulation be stopped, arguing that it could damage the institution’s reputation.

The memorandum stated: “The student had a shortage of attendance. She had not submitted any written complaint to the college against Dr Gangadhar, nor had she approached the Internal Complaints Committee or the POSH Committee. The alleged incident is from two years ago and is personal in nature. She married a lecturer from the college and visited the campus on October 29 along with representatives of an organisation, seeking permission to write the exam and levelling allegations against Dr Gangadhar. She was instructed to take the supplementary exam due to lack of attendance and insufficient marks.”

The faculty further stated that the video shared on social media was aimed at tarnishing the college’s image and called for its circulation to be stopped.
Responding to the issue, College Dean Dr Harish said, “The college has not received any written complaint against Dr Gangadhar. Based on the social media video, a notice has been issued. The POSH Committee will meet to discuss the matter.”

Dr Gangadhar, reacting to the allegations, said, “My name is being tarnished over issues related to attendance and marks. Students who score less are required to take supplementary exams. There is no truth in these allegations. I also have screenshots that I will present at the appropriate time.”