Sexual harassment plaint against folk varsity VC

An assistant professor working on ad-hoc basis has charged M N Venkatesh, registrar (evaluation) of the Karnataka Folk University, with sexually harassing her.

The victim has written to the additional chief secretary of the Higher Education department, saying that she was sexually assaulted at the administrative building of the university on January 6.

Speaking to DH, vice-chancellor D B Nayak said, "The victim and her husband had apprised me about the incident orally, a few days after the incident. But they had not given any written complaint. The accused had admitted to the crime and had also expressed his wish to resolve the issue with the victim.

"But we received a complaint by post on January 21. The letter has been forwarded to the university's committee for prevention of sexual harassment. The report of the committee will be placed before the Syndicate for further action," he said.

It is said that two members of the committee have fought among themselves and filed complaints against each other at the Shiggaon police station.

District Superintendent of Police K Parashuram confirmed about the complaints filed by the members, but said no complaint had been lodged so far about the incident of sexual harassment.