St Stephen's molestation row: College not a probe agency says principal

NEW DELHI: St Stephen's principal Valson Thampu, who is facing allegations of shielding a professor who is accused of molesting a PhD student, today said the college was not an investigative agency and it was for police to conduct the probe.

"When the girl had complaint to me I had forwarded it to the concerned body. When the court denied the professor a bail, he resigned as the Bursar and I made alternate arrangements. But ensuring justice is not in the hand of the college now. The institution is not an investigative agency," Thampu said.

"Police is conducting a probe into the matter and we are cooperating in every capacity. HRD Ministry and Delhi Commission for women had asked for an action-taken report and I have replied with facts. If he is guilty, he should be punished," he added.

The student had on June 19 lodged an FIR against Satish Kumar, an Assistant Professor in college's Chemistry department, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him.

She had also alleged that college principal tried to protect him when the matter was reported to the college authorities.

The victim has claimed in her complaint that Thampu had "criminally intimidated her to give a written application to him expressing her consent to close the matter in college itself in order to not cause any delay or problems in completion of her PhD".

Thampu has, however, not been named in the FIR.

A Delhi Court had on Tuesday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of the accused professor following which he has resigned from the post of college's Bursar.