A fast-track court in Noida has sentenced an associate professor from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur to ten years of rigorous imprisonment for raping a former student. The verdict, delivered this week, brings a close to a case filed in 2019.
Court Delivers Verdict After Four-Year Legal Battle
Additional Sessions Judge Priyanka Kumari found Vivek Vijay Vargiya guilty on November 27 and announced the sentence on December 1. The 45-year-old mathematics professor, who holds a PhD from IIT Powai, was convicted of assaulting the 35-year-old woman, a former student he had known for nearly two decades.
The prosecution successfully argued for the maximum punishment under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (rape). The defence's plea for leniency, citing Vargiya's ailing parents and two children, was rejected by the court. The judge clarified that the time he already spent in jail during the trial would be adjusted against his sentence.
Chronology of the Assault and Investigation
The case dates back to June 6, 2019, when the survivor filed a complaint at Sector 20 police station in Noida. She stated that she had gone to meet Vargiya at the GAIL guesthouse in Film City to discuss job opportunities. During the meeting, he allegedly asked if she was "ready to pay a price" before forcing himself on her.
Distraught, she immediately informed the guesthouse reception and security in-charge before calling the police. Both individuals were taken to the police station, and a case was registered. Vargiya was arrested the following day from a Metro station.
Forensic and CCTV Evidence Prove Decisive
The prosecution built a strong case based on multiple pieces of evidence:
- CCTV footage from the guesthouse confirming the woman's entry and exit.
- Testimony from an independent witness, Mangeram, the security personnel on duty, who stated he escorted her to register a complaint with GAIL security.
- A conclusive forensic report that confirmed the presence of male genetic material in the survivor's vaginal swab and undergarments.
- Medical evidence of injury marks on her private parts, corroborating the assault.
The defence, represented by a witness from IIT Jodhpur, argued that the FIR was delayed and filed maliciously after Vargiya could not secure a job for the woman. However, the judge found the evidence against him "proved beyond reasonable doubt." Vargiya, who was out on bail, was taken into custody immediately after the guilty verdict.
Fallout and Institutional Response
Following his arrest in 2019, IIT Jodhpur suspended Vargiya. However, the suspension was revoked when he obtained bail four months later, allowing him to resume work as an assistant professor. He was later promoted to associate professor in July 2023.
When contacted after the sentencing, Preetinder Kaur, Assistant Registrar (Public Relations) at IIT Jodhpur, stated that the institute had not yet received official information about the court order and would take a decision as per its rules.
The court's ruling underscores the legal consequences of sexual assault, even when the accused holds a position of authority and prestige in academia.
