'Yogi of JNU' Raghavendra Mishra, who claimed to have started Hindu Defence League, arrested for sexual harassment

Raghavendra Mishra was arrested under IPC Section 354 and 323 by the Delhi Police on Wednesday. He has had a colourful couple of years at JNU as he earned the moniker Yogi of JNU
Raghavendra Mishra (Pic: EPS)
Raghavendra Mishra (Pic: EPS)

Raghavendra Mishra, a PhD student in JNU's School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies was arrested by the Delhi Police on Wednesday, for allegedly sexually harassing a female student. A case has been registered under Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and Section 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Popularly known as the Ambedkarite Yogi of JNU and 'right-wing ka devta' (god of the right-wing), this partially visually impaired student had contested the JNUSU polls this year for the post of the president. He had, however, scored the least number of votes. An ardent Hindutva ideologue, in a previous interview claimed that he had started an initiative inside the university called the Hindu Defence League, against Muslim students offering Namaz inside the JNU Central Library. However, a few students later told us that he was in no way associated with the initiative. During the JNUSU polls, Mishra's candidature was initially cancelled, owing to him involving in a brawl with another student and being slapped with a fine of Rs 10,000.

A few JNU students tell us that they were sent messages on Wednesday, asking them to not share any information about the woman student, that may reveal her identity. We were also unable to get in touch with the ICC's Presiding Officer Vibha Tandon. However, a previous ICC member told us that no complaint had been filed by the female student with them.

During the university's #FeesMustFall protest, the student officer bearers had frequently alleged that they weren't able to meet the Vice-Chancellor to discuss the issue. However, during that time, Mishra attended a meeting with the VC and a few of the top officials, where he claims that he told the officials that it is their duty to take care of the students and demanded total rollback of the fee hike.

Mishra's phone was understandably switched off and he was unavailable for comment.

EDIT: This copy was updated after JNU students reached out to us and claimed that Mishra is not associated with the Hindu Defence League. However, Mishra had made the claim previously on record

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