Kalakshetra Foundation Suspends Asst Professor Hari Padman, 3 Others Over Alleged Sexual Harassment

Repertory artists of the institute Sanjit Lal, Sai Krishnan and Sreenath have also been charged under the case.

Chennai police arrested Hari Padman on Monday

The Kalakshetra Foundation suspended Hari Padman, assistant professor of the institute, who was accused of sexual harassment by several students with immediate effect. The institute also terminated three other teachers including Sanjith Lal, Sai Krishnan and Sreenath from their service. 

The termination of the faculties comes after several students alleged that the four professors sexually harassed them multiple times on various occasions. Around 90 students also gave complaints to the state women's commission, said a report on TNM. 

Kalakshetra Foundation also appointed an independent inquiry committee to probe the sexual harassment allegation.

After a meeting, the board members announced that an independent inquiry committee led by Justice (Retd) R Kannan will be carried out, as per Indian Express. The committee will also include former TN DGP Letika Saran and Dr Shobha Varthaman, as per the report. 

On Monday, Chennai police arrested Hari Padman who was absconding from the police. Hari Padman was earlier charged under Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 509 (use of words, gestures, or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC and Section 4 of the Women Harassment Act.

Police sources told IANS that he was arrested from a house in the city's Madhavaram area.

The action was taken after a former woman student gave a complaint against the professor at an All Woman police station. In the complaint, she said, when she was studying at the institute Hari Padman physically abused her and sent her obscene messages. Following this, she said that she discontinued her studies.

Repertory artists of the institute Sanjit Lal, Sai Krishnan and Sreenath have also been charged under the case.

On Thursday, the students staged a sit-in dharna against the sexual harassment by the four faculty members. 

(With IANS inputs)