St Stephen's prof denied bail in molestation case moves HC

New Delhi, Jul 2: St Stephen's college professor, accused of molesting a PhD student, today moved the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail apprehending arrest in the case.

Satish Kumar, an assistant professor in the college's chemistry department, filed the application challenging the trial court's June 23 order by which the relief sought by him was declined.

The student had on June 19 lodged an FIR against 40-year old Kumar, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him and that the college principal tried to protect him when the matter was reported to the college authorities.

Kumar in his plea before High Court sought anticipatory bail on the ground that the allegations levelled by the girl were "concocted" and there was not a single eye-witness to any of the incidents. His counsel Nitin Kumar Swaroop informed that he filed an application in the high court against trial court decision.

Kumar was ready to join the investigation and there was no need to arrest him, Swaroop added. Kumar's plea also stated that the professor could not have molested or followed the girl as he was 85 per cent physically disabled and walked with the help of a stick.

The claim was opposed by the public prosecutor and the victim's advocate on the ground that the allegation against the assistant professor was very serious and he was at a dominant position.

As per the police, the girl was allegedly molested by Kumar on October 15, 2013 in the college laboratory and after this incident, he kept stalking her.

On the day of the incident, Kumar had called the girl at least 25 times on her mobile phone but she did not answer his call and later tried to assure her that it will not happen again, the police had said before the trial court.

PTI