An assistant professor of a government arts and science college was arrested on Friday on charges of inappropriate behaviour with a girl student.
Police said the complainant is a third year degree student in the college in Ponneri All Women Police Station limits and the accused, M. Mahindran, 59, of Ambattur works as an assistant professor in the college. On March 10, the accused got the complainant’s mobile phone number from her friend. He contacted the complainant and invited her to his home.
He threatened the complainant with dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anybody. The girl complained to the college principal and other professors about the inappropriate behaviour. A related audio clip went viral on a WhatsApp group and she lodged a complaint with the police.
After interrogation, the police arrested Mahindran under Sections 294(b)(Uttering obscene song), 354(criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) 506(i)(Punishment for Criminal Intimidation) and two other provisions of Tamilnadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
On Friday, the students of the college staged a protest outside the premises demanding the immediate dismissal of the accused and the principal who failed to act on the complaint.
