Asst prof booked, sacked for alleged sexual harassment at IIIT Basar in Telangana

The accused allegedly demanded bribes and sexual favours from students appearing for their supplementary exams, to make them pass.
Asst prof booked, sacked for alleged sexual harassment at IIIT Basar in Telangana
Asst prof booked, sacked for alleged sexual harassment at IIIT Basar in Telangana
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A senior faculty member of Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) in Telangana's Nirmal district, more popularly known as IIIT Basar, was booked by the police and sacked, after he allegedly sexually harassed women students in the campus.

Investigation officials said that the accused, identified as Ravi Varala, allegedly demanded bribes and sexual favours from students appearing for their supplementary exams, to make them pass.

The university had conducted an internal inquiry after receiving a complaint and found that Ravi had allegedly taken some money from students. This inquiry report was submitted to the Vice-Chancellor, who then directed the RGUKT Administrative Officer to file a police complaint.

The university also terminated the services of the Assistant Professor.

On Sunday, several parents and student unions had staged a protest, alleging that the accused would send lewd messages and even invite girl students to his living quarters.

The students alleged that he had sent similar messages to around 20 women, asking them to come to his house with a promise that he would make sure that they passed.

Nirmal Superintendent of Police C. Shashidhar Raju told reporters that as far as the allegations of bribery were concerned, the accused allegedly used to demand between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 to make the students pass. 

A case has been registered against Ravi Varala under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

The police said that further investigation was underway and more details would be revealed soon.

Last month, 56 women from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) protested against alleged sexual harassment they faced at the hands of D Srinivas Reddy, a stenographer at the institute.  

Srinivas used to allegedly take pictures of the women without their consent and would ask them to sleep with him. Unable to bear the harassment, 2-3 women had quit their jobs in the past year.

After the case surfaced, the women were continuously threatened by NIFT authorities to compromise in order to safeguard their jobs.

Read: Win for 56 women who fought against sexual harassment: NIFT reinstates all workers

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