I am Dawood Ibrahim: St Stephens principal Valson Thampu

NEW DELHI: "I am Dawood Ibrahim that is why I am being hounded" St Stephen's college principal Valson Thampu today said, expressing anguish over the "way" he is being "attacked" in connection with a research scholar's sexual harassment case.

The research scholar had alleged that she was molested by Satish Kumar, an assistant professor in the college's Chemistry department. She also claimed that Thampu has been shielding Kumar and has pressured her to withdraw her complaint.

"I am Dawood Ibrahim. If others are free to morph me into an object of aversion... I am also free to project myself in an extremely self-denigrating image... for the support it might lend to now sagging efforts of the vested interests as well as the media," Thampu told PTI.

"My imagination in this respect cannot go beyond Dawood Ibrahim as he is the ultimate embodiment of aversions. I stand by every word I say or have said. I am not a coward to attribute anything to the 'incompetence' of media. Yes, I am Dawood Ibrahim," he said.

A section of students, college's alumni and women rights groups has been pressing for his resignation in the wake of the controversy.

Thampu, the accused professor and the research scholar were summoned yesterday by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and the issue was discussed at length during the three-hour long meeting.

Thampu maintained that "he is being hounded as an animal in the case as if he is the harasser".

Prior to the DCW hearing, he had sought suggestions on his facebook page about "whether he should appear before the DCW with his face covered as usually all harassers and rapists are photographed with their faces covered".