Kalakshetra imbroglio: Chennai police arrest Hari Padman accused of sexual harassment

The dance teacher was earlier booked by the Adyar All-Women Police on March 31 after a former student filed a complaint against him.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu):Chennai Police on Monday arrested an assistant professor at Chennai's Kalakshetra's Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts based on complaints of sexual harassment against him. Hari Padman, the dance professor was booked by the Adyar All-Women Police on March 31 after a former student filed a complaint against him.

Police sources said the Adyar Police which is pursuing the case arrested Kalakshestra Professor Hari Padman following the complaint of sexual harassment from a former student. Padaman was booked under various sections of the Indian Pencal Code (IPC) including sexual harassment and relevant sections of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act (TNPHWA).

The case has been registered under sections 354 (A), and 509, of IPC 4 of the TNPHWA. The action follows the assurances provided by the chairperson of State Commission for Women AS Kumari who informed the students that the Chief Minister was seized of the issue and necessary action will be taken.

The Kalakshetra students' union which was formed ahead of the protest was staging an indefinite sit-in over the delay in action against the accused professor. The protest was withdrawn after the SCW's meeting. Students also released a video saying that they have withdrawn their protest.

The students had thanked the Kumari, media, law and order and other official bodies. The student body had earlier written to the Union Culture Ministry demanding action against the Director and the Head of the Dance department of the institution, for being complicit with the harassment.

On March 31, CM M K Stalin informed the State Assembly that adequate action will be taken against those accused involving in unsavoury acts. He was responding to a special call attention-motion moved by the members of the Legislative Assembly regarding the sexual harassment allegation at the Kalashetra Foundation.

The motion was moved by the DMK allies Balaji of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Velmurugan of Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi, and Selva Perundagai of Congress and others.