JNU professor arrested in sexual harassment case, gets bail

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Atul Johri was today arrested over allegations of sexual harassment of some women students of the premier institution and granted bail shortly afterwards by a city court.

Students and professors of the university as well as women's rights organisations had been staging protests demanding Johri's arrest, after some students accused him of sexual harassment.

Dependra Pathak, Chief Spokesperson, Delhi Police said Johri was arrested after three hours of questioning at the Vasant Kunj police station.

Johri, who is from the Department of Life Sciences, was produced before duty magistrate Ritu Singh.

The magistrate granted bail to Johri and directed him to furnish a bail bond of Rs 30,000 for each of the eight FIRs registered against him.

Johri had moved a bail plea saying sending him to jail would spoil his career.

Yesterday, 54 JNU professors had demanded registration of separate FIRs on all eight sexual harassment complaints against Johri. They had also petitioned Deputy Commissioner of Police (south-west) Milind Dumbere's office in this regard.

Seven FIRs were registered against Johri late last night, in addition to the one already lodged against him.

Following a protest staged by the JNU students outside the Vasant Kunj police station yesterday, women's rights organisations, including the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) and the All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan, demonstrated outside the police station today, demanding Johri's arrest.