TNN
Mohali, Apr 7: Bringing shame to the hallowed circles of learning, the director of a private institute in Kharar was arrested on Monday evening for reportedly outraging the modesty of a second-year student. The victim claimed that Amul Raaj, 55, the director (pharmacy) of Doaba Group of Colleges — had tried to force himself upon her in his office on Friday and then again on Monday.
Shocked and outraged, students of pharmacy college — located around 5 km from Kharar — lodged an angry protest at the institute, hurling stones and reportedly damaging property, forcing authorities to discontinue classes.
The director — who pleaded innocence — has been placed under suspension, with the college asking its women grievances cell to look into the complaint. "She's like my daughter," said Raaj, while denying all charges. He added the victim had been irregular in his class. The girl had reportedly approached police with a complaint, wherein she accused Raaj of locking her in his office on Friday afternoon with an intention to molest and threaten her. She claimed the director tried to harass her again on Monday, following which she approached the cops.
A case was registered against the accused at Kharar police station under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation). Kharar DSP Simrat Pal Singh told TOI the director had been booked under IPC and further investigation was on.
Though college authorities claimed the director had asked the girl to be regular in his class, the protesting students claimed attendance was not "too much of an issue" in the pharmacy course. The victim, whose parents reside in USA, stays at the institute hostel. Group's chief administrator Jeet Singh claimed one of victim's relatives assaulted the director on Monday and that cops had been informed about the same.
Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Raaj had recently joined the college. He was working with Roorkee College of Pharmacy earlier.