I'm being hounded, lobby working against me: Thampu

St Stephen's College principal Valson Thampu, who is facing allegations of dissuading a student from filing complaint in a sexual harassment case, on Tuesday said he was being "hounded like an animal."

Thampu told media here that allegations against him of protecting the accused in the alleged molestation of a research scholar at Delhi University were being made to malign his image.

He said that conclusions were being drawn before the process of law runs its course.

"I am being hounded like an animal. Being chased like a dog," Thampu said at a press conference at the Press Club of India here.

Thampu said he is committed to get justice to the student who had accused a professor of at the college of molesting her.

"I am committed to get justice and help the student in all possible ways," he said.

Activist Swami Agnivesh, who was also present at the press conference, alleged conspiracy against the prestigious college.

"The allegations against the college and the principal are a deliberate attempt at character assassination," he said.

Thampu launched an attack on a section of alumni without taking any names and said they were lobbying against him.

"There is a lobby working against me. For eight years I have been heading the college and there has been no case of corruption. And I have worked sincerely towards ensuring social justice. Students from far flung and non-elite backgrounds are a part of the college. Thus, you can understand the background of lobbying against me," he said.

He also urged the media not to malign his image even before the court makes its decision.

"I am a father of two daughters and I have a wife. I have to walk in the society. Please do not make me put my head down even before the law runs its course," Thampu said.

The research scholar at Delhi University had accused a professor of chemistry at St. Stephens College, Satish Kumar, of sexually harassing her during the course of her PhD work. She had also released a voice recording about her purported conversation with Thampu and Kumar and alleged that the principal was seeking to protect the professor while trying to dissuade her from filing a complaint.

Students and social activist groups have staged protests demanding resignation of Thampu.