Lecturer booked for sexually harassing six students in Gujarat

Ahmedabad:A lecturer of a self-financed interior design college in Vallabh Vidyanagar town of Anand district was booked for allegedly sexually harassing six students during a lecture last month, police said today.

College Principal Kavita Patel has been named as co-accused in the case for allegedly abetting the crime by shielding the accused Dhaval Panchasara, Police Sub-Inspector A C Parmar said.

“We have registered an FIR against Panchasara under section 354(A) of the IPC for sexual harassment. We have also booked Principal Kavita Patel under IPC section 114 for abetting the crime,” he said.

After a complaint was filed on Friday by a girl student, the FIR was registered. In the complaint, the student alleged that she along with five other girls were sexually harassed by Panchasara, who inappropriately touched them during a lecture in August.

“The victim alleged that when she along with the other girls took up the matter with the college principal and requested her to take action against Panchasara, she allegedly took his side. The victim also claimed that Patel threatened her for raising this issue,” Parmar said.

No arrests have been made so far and an investigation is underway he said.

PTI