Two MU professors held for molesting colleagues

Physical Training department head Bapu Chougule (57) and assistant professor Nilesh Lohar (39) were today apprehended after their anticipatory bails were rejected by a sessions court last week, police said.

Yesterday, the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) Police had received the rejected bail applications following which investigators nabbed the duo, police added.

According to police, three victims - a lecturer, librarian and a sweeper aged between 21 to 28 years at the varsity's Kalina campus - complained on the Mumbai police website about three months ago levelling allegations of molestation against the duo.

The complaints were forwarded to the BKC police who began the probe into the matter, police said.

"The two got wind of the complaints received by police against them and applied for anticipatory bails in the sessions court. Last week, the court rejected their bail pleas and these order copies reached our police station yesterday," police said.

The duo was booked under relevant IPC sections including 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).

Before writing to policemen, the victims had orally complained to their seniors at the university about the two, after which they were warned also.