IIT-Madras scholar sexually assaulted: Main accused arrested from Kolkata

Her fellow scholar Kingshuk Debsharma abused her verbally, physically twice - once in the lab and during a trip to Coorg, prevented her from using the instruments in the laboratory and even reprimanded her for using chemicals.

Chennai:An IIT research scholar accused of sexually harassing his fellow research scholar, who belonged to a Scheduled Caste community, was arrested in Kolkata by a special team of Tamil Nadu Police on Monday. Kingshuk Debsharma (30), the main accused in the sexual assault and harassment case, was detained at the Diamond Harbour police station in West Bengal on Sunday night, police said. Debsharma, against whom his fellow research scholar made accusations of sexually assaulting her repeatedly and also harassing her at the workplace along with his accomplices including two of her professors, will be brought to Chennai for inquiry.

He is among the eight people accused in the case registered by the Mylapore All Women Police station in June 2021. A fresh complaint to book those accused in the case under the SC / ST Act was later filed as the victim, a PhD research scholar, hailed from the Scheduled Caste community. The case gathered momentum after the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) took up the victim's case and sought justice for her and stringent action against the perpetrators.

AIDWA Tamil Nadu general secretary P Suganthi demanded that the case be transferred to the Crime Branch CID for a thorough investigation and appropriate action. Earlier in 2020, based on her complaint, the internal Complaints Committee against Sexual Harassment (CCASH) found that her fellow scholar Kingshuk Debsharma abused her verbally, physically twice - once in the lab and during a trip to Coorg, prevented her from using the instruments in the laboratory and even reprimanded her for using chemicals.

He made her feel uncomfortable in the lab in the presence of a co-guide who failed to warn Debsharma when the girl complained. Another professor joined hands with Debsharma to ensure that she does not get slot time on the instruments, the CCASH found during the Google meet inquiry.