Sexual harassment of IIT Madras scholar: Two professors get anticipatory bail

Anticipatory bail was granted to two professors from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT M) on Wednesday, April 21, by the Madras High Court in connection with the case of sexually harassing a Dalit PhD candidate of the university.

Justice G Jayachandran granted the bail to G Edamana Prasad and Ramesh Gardad, the fifth and sixth accused in the case, and LiveLaw.in reported that, Justice Jayachandran observed how there were no grounds on which the bail should be denied since the allegations weren't made against them directly, the allegation was that they failed to take any action against the prime accused, who is also currently out on anticipatory bail.

Without prior permission of the investing agency, the two professors can't leave Tamil Nadu and without the permission of the court, they cannot leave the country was the condition put forth by the court. Since they are respected professors who might have to travel outside the country, the court directed the trial court to grant them permission in such cases.

The Dalit PhD woman scholar's complaint details sexual, physical and mental harassment by a fellow scholar, and verbal and mental abuse from other scholars and members of the faculty. This lasted from 2016, when she first joined, to 2020, when she first filed a complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CCASH) of IIT Madras. 

An internal inquiry did not find any substantiative evidence but the professors moved court stating that no allegations were levied against them yet they were arrayed as accused in the FIR.