Madurai Kamaraj University Professor Faces Charges of Sexual Harassment

Madurai, Tamil Nadu: The head of the computer science department at Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) is now facing allegations of sexual harassment brought forth by a former PhD scholar and current trainer under the RUSA scheme. The incident, which occurred on November 14 last year, has led to the filing of a case against Professor M Thangaraj.

The 27-year-old victim, who had previously served as a guest lecturer in a college, joined MKU as a trainer. The alleged harassment took place inside Professor Thangaraj’s chamber, where he had taken the victim to provide guidance on interview techniques and teaching strategies. Instead, he is accused of hugging and misbehaving with her, as stated in the victim’s complaint.

Following the incident, the victim approached the superintendent of police, R Shiva Prasad, weeks later, prompting an investigation by the Samayanallur All Women Police Station. The police have registered a case against Professor Thangaraj under Section 354(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. The investigation is currently underway to determine the facts surrounding the allegations.