NEW DELHI:A suspended officer of St Stephen’s College here has approached a city court against college principal Valson Thampu accusing him of forcing the officer to convert to Christianity.
Subha Kumar Dash, the administrative officer now on suspension, has also demanded `5 lakh as damages from Thampu for ‘tarnishing’ his reputation.
Additional District Judge Kamini Lau asked the principal and a college employee, Deepak Mukarji, to respond to the complaint by February 25.
Dash alleged that in January 2014, Thampu had pressured him to convert from Hinduism to Christianity and from October onwards, serious differences had cropped up between them as a result of his refusal.
Dash claimed that the principal had alleged that the former was an alcoholic and insane, which was intended to tarnish the complainant’s image.
On November 2, 2014, Dash had sent two text messages to Thampu protesting against the harassment meted out to him and his family which pushed him into depression.
Regarding Mukarji, the complainant said he “cast aspersions on my character by referring to me as drunkard.”
Dash was suspended last year when he resumed work after availing medical leave.