St. Stephen's sexual harassment row: Thampu said 'ready for CBI probe'

Amid criticism following the sexual harassment charges levelled against the bursar by a research scholar, St. Stephen's College principal Valson Thampu on Monday said the institution was ready for a judicial or CBI probe into the matter.

Thampu highlighted the college's commitment towards the dignity of women, truth and justice.

"St. Stephen's college has nothing to hide and it is in our interest to establish the truth. And the establishment of truth must be beyond the shadow of any doubt. Therefore, I am suggesting that a judicial enquiry be conducted, a CBI enquiry be conducted. Let any agency enquire into the matter. The college is happy and eager to open up everything, to any agency which is competent to do the probe. I want to go on record and say that this is our stand," Thampu said.

"Firstly, I want to thank the Ministry of Human Resources Department for taking this initiative. I thank that the UGC has taken it seriously and within 24 hours has nominated the observer. The observer is already in college," he added.

Thampu alleged that certain 'anarchist' factions were trying to create an air of suspicion on the investigation of the Delhi Police as well as the efficacy of the court.

"I have absolute trust in the competence and integrity of the Delhi Police. But it seems to me that the complainant and the forces working behind her have absolutely no trust at all. Because once the matter is in court and the honourable judge has given clear order to Delhi Police to investigate the matter on priority and to file a report within a fixed date, what is the need to mount extra judicial pressure on the issue?" he said.

Thampu also expressed his disappointment over the protests outside the college on this matter.

"And I want to be explicit. What is the need to bring various other organizations and to demonstrate and disturb the peace of the campus? To tarnish the image of the college in the public eye is extremely sad. It is unbecoming of people who claim to be committed to the rule of law," Thampu said.

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"Now this is something that is extremely unhealthy because this casts an air of suspicion on the investigation of Delhi Police as well as the efficacy of the court. I personally think it is an insult to the court. But that's not for me to decide," he added.

The research scholar, who has alleged that she was molested by the bursar, approached the police last week with four recordings that she claimed to have made during her meetings with the principal where he had allegedly pressurised her to withdraw the complaint.

Thampu, on the other hand, is maintaining that the recordings have been "mischievously edited".

While the demand for Thampu's resignation over the issue is growing louder, the Union HRD ministry has asked the UGC to ensure the probe is completed by college's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) "expeditiously" and "impartially".