Police in Chennai have registered a serious case against two officials of a private dental college in Kundrathur. The accused, a senior administrative officer and a female hostel in-charge, face allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation levelled by a first-year student.
Details of the Alleged Harassment
The complainant, a 23-year-old first-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student, stated that after she declined a scholarship offer from the college administration, the situation escalated. On December 18, the hostel in-charge, identified as Jhansi, texted the student, asking her to meet the college's administrative officer, Ramamoorthy, regarding the scholarship matter.
According to the police complaint, the student met Ramamoorthy the following day. The officer allegedly took her to an area with no CCTV surveillance. There, he is accused of making inappropriate remarks and proposing a relationship. He promised personal favours in return and issued a severe threat. The student claims he warned her that he would reduce her internal assessment marks and even fail her in examinations if she revealed the incident to anyone.
Intimidation and Evidence Tampering
Frightened by the encounter, the young woman confided in a friend. This act of sharing soon led to further intimidation. The police report states that Jhansi, the hostel in-charge, confiscated the student's mobile phone. She allegedly checked the call records and verbally abused the student in the presence of male staff members. The complainant was also forced to 'write letters' under duress.
Although the phone was returned later, the student, operating out of fear, deleted the messages that Jhansi had sent her. This act potentially erased crucial digital evidence. The victim eventually gathered the courage to inform her mother about the entire traumatic episode.
Police Action and Ongoing Investigation
The next day, when the student's mother visited the college to confront Administrative Officer Ramamoorthy, she was denied permission to meet him. Following this denial, both the student and her mother approached the Kundrathur police station and filed a formal complaint.
Acting on the complaint, the police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. The charges include making obscene gestures and criminal intimidation. An investigation is underway, and a hunt has been launched to locate and apprehend both Ramamoorthy and Jhansi, who are currently absconding.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the safety mechanisms and grievance redressal systems within private educational institutions. It highlights the vulnerability of students and the potential abuse of power by those in administrative positions.
