Chennai: Hari Padman, an assistant professor at Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts under the Kalakshetra Foundation, has been arrested by Chennai Police on charges of sexual harassment. The case was filed by a former female student of the institution, and he went absconding after the registration of the complaint. His mobile phone was also found switched off. However, the police have since apprehended him and will be conducting further interrogation before producing him before a court for remand.
The police officer confirmed that Hari Padman is the only person arrested, and no other complaints have been filed in connection with the ongoing allegations of harassment at the institution. The case against Hari Padman was booked under section 354-A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act.
Last week, students of the Kalakshetra Foundation carried out protests demanding the dismissal of four staff members, including Hari Padman, who have been accused of inappropriate behavior and sexual abuse. The protesting students alleged that the current and former students had faced sexual and verbal harassment for a long time by Assistant Professor Hari Padman and three other repertory assistants.
On Friday night, All Women Police in Adyar registered a case against Hari Padman based on a complaint from the woman student who had studied from 2015 to 2019 and discontinued later. The police also recorded the statements of five other students who are in Kerala.
The incident has once again highlighted the rampant issue of sexual harassment and abuse in educational institutions and the urgent need to create a safe environment for students. It also emphasizes the importance of taking appropriate action against the accused and providing support to victims of such crimes.
