UP prof on run after sexual harassment videos surface online; DM orders probe

A senior professor at a government college in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras has been accused of abusing his position to exploit women students over the past two decades

Agra: The Hathras district magistrate (DM) in Uttar Pradesh has constituted a four-member committee to probe the allegations of sexual harassment against a senior professor, who has been accused of abusing his position to exploit women students over the past two decades.

The UP State Women Commission received an anonymous complaint from a survivor against the professor. (Representational image)

The committee is to be presided by sub divisional magistrate (SDM), Hathras, and the other members include the circle officer, Hathras, tehsildar, Sadabad, and the district basic shiksha adhikari, according to a statement by the DM.

The Hathras police filed a first information report on Thursday against the accused professor, Rajneesh Kumar, 59, after videos of his alleged sexual harassment surfaced online.

Kumar, who was the chief proctor, was suspended by the state government run Seth Phool Chand Bagla (P. G.) College administration on Saturday.

Hathras superintendent of police (SP) Chiranjeev Nath Sinha said the FIR was lodged after information was given by UP State Women Commission on receiving an anonymous complaint from a survivor, addressed to the Prime Minister, chief minister, and other authorities.

He said the professor has been elusive since then and three teams have been constituted for his arrest.

‘’We are trying to identify the victims and produce them before magistrate to record their statement,” said the SP.