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Will resign if proved I was cause of embarrassment to institution: St Stephen's principal

Written by : TNM

 The principal of St Stephen's college in Delhi, Valson Thampu, on Monday said that he would resign if he it was "objectively proved" that he was a "cause of embarassment to the institution", states a PTI report. Thampu is facing criticism for his handling of the case of alleged molestation of a research scholar by a teacher in the college, and several quarters, including students, teachers and activists, have been demanding his resignation. The research scholar had also accused Thampu of siding with the accused teacher and "trying to malign" her image.According to the report, Thampu said, "If I am a cause of embarrassment to the institution and it is objectively proved, I will put in my papers that very moment."Thampu also questioned the need for extra-judicial pressure on the issue, and said that he has "absolute trust in competent integrity of Delhi police".On a complaint from the doctoral student, the Delhi police registered a case against St Stephen's chemistry teacher Satish Kumar on various charges, including stalking and sexual harassment. In the FIR lodged on June 19, the doctoral student said Satish Kumar "sexually assaulted" her on October 15, 2013, inside a laboratory.The Delhi High Court had on Friday put on hold till August 17 the arrest of Kumar. According to the complaint, Kumar also followed the student to a Metro station close to the college after she moved away on freeing herself from the teacher's clutches.The student alleged that she was first harassed in May 2013 in the same laboratory where she was sexually assaulted. She said the harassment continued despite her resistence. The Ph.D. student said Kumar stopped guiding her in her research and kept a watch on her social media accounts. In his plea, Satish Kumar, 40, termed the woman's charges "concocted" and said there was not a single eyewitness to any of the alleged incidents. He said there was no need to arrest him as he was ready to join investigation.Satish Kumar's counsel contended that the teacher could not have molested or followed the woman as he was 85 percent physically disabled and walked with the help of a stick.With inputs from IANS   

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