JNU professor arrested, released on bail

New Delhi: The Delhi police on Tuesday arrested Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Atul Johri for alleged sexual misconduct. He was produced in the Patiala court and later granted bail.  

“I have been working in JNU since 2004. I’m a victim of politics,” said Johri on the numerous allegations he was faced with.

He further stated that sending him to jail would ruin his career.

“Allegations of molestation against my client are baseless and totally wrong,” said Atul Johri’s counsel.

The Delhi police on Tuesday arrested Atul Johri, a professor at the School of Life Sciences at JNU, and was produced before metropolitan magistrate Ritu Singh at the Patiala House Court.

Prof. Johri was accused of sexual harassment by as many as nine female students at the university.

The arrest came after 8 FIRs were registered separately on complaints made by female students against the professor, alleging he sexually harassed them in the laboratory of School of Life Sciences.

DCP (Southwest) Milind Mahadeo Dumber confirmed that the said professor was detained for questioning and simultaneously his statement was recorded.

The investigation in the case is led by additional DCP Monika Bharadwaj. She said that several female students of the university approached the police and made similar allegations against the professor.

Before arresting the professor on Tuesday, police issued him a notice to join the probe. But he failed to appear before them on Monday. Even the student union of Jawahar Lal University, JNUSU, issued a statement on Monday and heavily criticised Delhi police for their inaction in the case and for not immediately arresting him.

“The Delhi police postponed the recording (of the statement) of Atul Johri till Tuesday. This could have been done on Monday itself. We believe that the postponement was done to give him more time. Since an FIR has been registered, he should be interrogated in custody and not given time to protect himself. By giving him more time, the Delhi police is actively protecting him,” the statement said.

Besides the students, JNU professors have also been demanding action against Johri.

Women rights organisations, including All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (AIMSS), even held protests against Johri on Tuesday, demanding his arrest.

Meanwhile, an aide of the professor, on the condition of anonymity, said: “He has been framed with a proper strategy. The complainants were lacking attendance. Due to this, the professor asked them to attend classes on time or they would be debarred. But soon after Johri mailed the students about their inadequate attendance, some female students approached the police and made fake allegations against him.”

DCW chief Swati Maliwal also criticised the Delhi police for the delay in arresting the professor.

“DCW will stand by the victims’ side till the case is concluded,” she said.