Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Prof tries to lure girls for officials, held

Oppn Parties Demand CBI Investigation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK   17.04.2018

Madurai: Seven hours after they knocked on the doors of assistant professor Nirmala Devi, who allegedly tried to lure some girl students to do sexual favours for higher officials in Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), the police broke into the house and arrested her on Monday evening. She was taken to the Aruppukkottai town police station.

Nirmala Devi, who taught at Devanga Arts College (affiliated to MKU) in Aruppukkottai, Virudhunagar district, allegedly tried to lure a group of four BSc final year students when she went to MKU last month for a refresher course. The girls filed a complaint with the college management on March 19, based on which the faculty member was placed under temporary suspension on March 21. The incident came to light again as the 20-minute conversation — in which she is heard allegedly trying to convince the young girls to do sexual favours to get marks and financial support — went viral on social media. The Aruppukkottai town police registered a case under IPC Sections 370 (buying or disposing of any persons as slaves) and 511 (attempting to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment). She was also booked under Section 65 of the Information Technology Act. The case was based on a complaint from college secretary R Ramasamy. Police sources said Nirmala Devi completed her graduation from Devanga College and did her research in MKU.

Earlier in the day, MKU vice chancellor P P Chellathurai announced an inquiry by a fivemember committee led by senate member Lellis Thivakar. He said that the university had not been informed by the college earlier. He added that the university had a tamper-proof system in place and no paper could be traced to alter the marks. Nirmala had told the students in the conversation that they could get 85% marks in return for certain favours.

Opposition parties reacted strongly to the developments. “Since a teacher, who has to impart education, has tried to spoil the life of students, the probe into the matter should be handed over to the CBI under the supervision of the high court,” DMK working president M K Stalin tweeted.

PMK youth wing leader and Lok Sabha member Anbumani Ramadoss said, “The shocked students are heard saying in a broken voice that they are not interested. Undeterred, the professor tells the students that if they agree to the proposal the students can achieve anything.” The CPM wanted all sections of society to protest against the incident. “People must raise their voice against such issues happening in Tamil Nadu,” said party state secretary K Balakrishnan.

Meanwhile, a group of students and members of the All India Democratic Women’s Association took out a protest at the college demanding the termination of the faculty member’s service.

Governor Purohit orders probe

Chennai: In an unusual move, Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who is also chancellor of MKU, ordered a high-level inquiry by retired IAS officer R Santhanam into the incident based on a report from the MKU. Santhanam was collector of Ramanathapuram and had held several senior positions before retiring in the rank of chief secretary. A Raj Bhavan statement said, “It is important to inquire into such matters immediately and without prejudice so that the guilty do not escape without punishment.” State fisheries minister D Jayakumar said the government will act. “A professor misleading the students cannot be accepted,” he said promising an appropriating inquiry by the law enforcement officers. TNN

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