'Molested' Stephen's student demands principal's resignation

A 27-year-old research scholar who has accused a St. Stephen's lecturer of molesting her said on Friday that college principal, Valson Thampu, must resign if she has to get justice.

"Valson Thampu must resign. He has no right to continue being the principal of St. Stephen's. If he stays, students in the future might suffer the way I am suffering," the victim told IANS.

In the FIR lodged on June 19, the doctoral student said Satish Kumar, also the college's bursar, "sexually assaulted" her on October 15, 2013, inside a laboratory.

The demand was echoed by the Association of Old Stephanians which said Thampu "instead of supporting the victim tried to hush up the matter".

"Valson Thampu is as culpable as Satish Kumar. We hope Delhi Police takes criminal action against Thampu as well. We demand that college supreme council and governing body to sack him with immediate effect," the association said in a letter.

The victim has also released audio clips wherein Thampu is allegedly asking her to withdraw her complaint."I have recorded the conversations on my personal phone and have handed over the phone to the police," she said.

A human resource ministry official told IANS that it would not intervene saying the issue was being handled by the college's Internal Complaints Committee as per the guidelines of the apex court.

However, the Delhi High Court put on hold till August 17 the arrest of Satish Kumar.

Justice Indermeet Kaur asked Delhi Police not to arrest Satish Kumar after he filed an anticipatory bail plea apprehending arrest.

The court issued notice to city police and asked them to file a status report on the investigation in the case.

The court also asked Kumar to join the investigation when asked by police. Demanding action against the culprits, Delhi University's Executive Council member Abha Dev Habib said there should be a time-bound inquiry in to the matter.

"As per the recording, Thampu has been adding to the victimization of the girl. We do not want institution to be headed by such a person," she said.

Despite several attempts, Thampu was not available for a comment.