Accused record statements with committee

The alleged accused in the sexual harassment case at Panjab University (PU), the University Business School (UBS) chairman AK Vashisht and dean of faculty Dinesh Gupta on Friday recorded their statements with the committee dealing with the case.

The alleged accused in the sexual harassment case at Panjab University (PU), the University Business School (UBS) chairman AK Vashisht and dean of faculty Dinesh Gupta on Friday recorded their statements with the committee dealing with the case.

HT Image

An assistant professor at the department has allegedly accused them of sexually harassing her.

Reportedly, the alleged accused stated in front of the committee that they were paying the price of being able administrators. They said they were doing their job and were trying to maintain discipline.

Both Vashisht and Gupta said they have already submitted their reply in detail to the committee. The accused had concocted entire story, they added. In their written reply, the professors besides denying all allegations have also written about their academic past and their family, there by wanting to convey the kind of reputation they have been sharing for so long.

The committee recorded the statements of these professors and they would be submitting the final report in the matter to the university soon. The duo recorded with the committee that in their written statements they have pointed out the contradictions in the statements of the complainant. Both also refused all allegations stating them to be false.

The committee has already recorded statements of nine individuals from the department, and besides taking note of the complainant, have also heard the lone eye-witness, a rickshaw puller, who however, had refused to sign his statement given by him to the committee.