Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 16: Prof Rashid Ahmed, professor of Mysore University in the department of applied botany, has secured conditional bail from the state High Court relating to a sex harassment case against him. He is facing charges of sexually harassing lecturer, Sujatha, who was pursuing PhD course under his guidance in Mangalore University. Sujatha had consumed sleeping pills and committed suicide on March 3, 2008, after leaving behind a suicide note.

Based on the said letter, Sujatha’s father, Javaraiah, and husband, Amar, had filed a complaint with  Konaje police station near here, alleging that the lecturer in question had ended her life, frustrated over repeated incidents of sexual abuse meted out to her by seven persons including Prof Rashid Ahmed. The policemen had recently arrested Rashid, who had been shifted to Mysore University some time back.

In his bail petition, Prof Rashid insisted that the allegations made against him were baseless, and that he had never sexually harassed Sujatha. Pledging to extend full cooperation to the investigations, he prayed for bail, as he has to provide guidance to students. Lawyer representing the complainants claimed that the then vice-chancellor of Mysore University and the registrar had failed to take action in spite of complaint having been filed with them by Sujatha relating to protracted sexual harassment.

A single judge bench of the High Court presided over by Justice B V Pinto, while granting bail, instructed Prof Rashid to present himself at Konaje police station every Sunday to sign the attendance registrar. He has also been asked to provide security deposit and bonds from two known persons, besides depositing his passport with the police.