No anticipatory bail for St Stephen's prof in molestation case

A Delhi court today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Delhi University's St Stephen's college professor who was accused of molesting a student doing PhD under his supervision.
Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Garg denied the relief to Satish Kumar, an assistant professor in the college's chemistry department.
The student had on June 19 lodged an FIR against Kumar, 40, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by him and that the college principal tried to protect him when the matter was reported to the concerned college authorities.
Kumar sought anticipatory bail on the ground that allegations levelled by the girl were "concocted" and there was not even a single eye witness to any of the incidents.

His counsel Nitin Kumar Swaroop said that Kumar was ready to join the investigation and there was no need to arrest him.
The bail application, however, was opposed by the public prosecutor and the victim's advocate on the ground that the allegation against Kumar was very serious and he was at a dominiant position.

Public Prosecutor R K Tanwar argued that Kumar has already tampered with some evidence with the help of college principal and has attempted to rape the girl.
Police needs Kumar's custodial interrogation as his mobile phone was required to see the call details and a thorough probe was necessary in the case, he said.

Tanwar contended that the girl was molested by Kumar on October 15, 2013 in the college laboratory and after this incident he kept stalking her.
He added that on the day of this incident he called the girl atleast 25 times on her mobile phone but she did not answer his call and later on he tried to assure her that it will not happen again.
Kumar's counsel, however, argued that the girl had given different versions in her three different complaints and the chain of allegations increased in every complaint.
He also said the professor could not have molested or followed the girl as he was 85 per cent physically disabled and walked with the help of a stick.