A 45-year-old professor at a private university in Bengaluru has been arrested and subsequently released on bail for allegedly sexually harassing a 19-year-old student after inviting her to his home under the pretext of a family lunch, The Indian Express has reported.
The complaint, filed by a third-year Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) student, led to the professor's arrest on Monday. He was booked under Section 75 (sexual harassment) of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the student's detailed statement to the police, the incident occurred on September 25. The accused professor allegedly contacted the student and invited her to his residence for lunch, specifically stating that his wife and children would be present. To further cement the ruse, he reportedly spoke to the student’s mother directly, offering reassurances about the familial nature of the gathering.
Trusting his word, the mother permitted her daughter to go. However, the situation turned alarming as soon as they arrived at his apartment. While parking his scooter, the professor allegedly revealed to the student that no one else was at home. When the young woman hesitated, he reportedly persuaded her to proceed by insisting she would be safe with him.
Once inside the empty flat, the professor allegedly sat next to her on a sofa and began asking personal questions. The student told police that he then pressured her to end her relationship with her boyfriend. He further allegedly urged her to move into a paying guest accommodation near his apartment, promising that she could visit him regularly to “clear doubts” in her studies.
The professor also promised assistance with her academic marks, money and attendance, as per the complaint cited by The Indian Express. Despite her clear objections, the student alleged that the professor then touched her inappropriately.
The tense situation was momentarily interrupted when the student received a phone call from a friend. She stated that the accused instructed her not to answer, but she defied him and informed her friend of her location. Immediately after the call ended, the professor allegedly claimed his actions were merely a method of “testing her loyalty” towards her boyfriend. He then warned her not to disclose the incident to anyone.
Following the filing of the formal complaint, the Bengaluru police took swift action to arrest the accused. However, he was later released on station bail.
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