SCB Professor Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charge

CUTTACK: Head of anesthesiology Prof Laxmidhar Das was arrested on Friday by police on charges of sexual harassment of a post-graduate student.

Mangalabag police picked up the senior faculty member from his residence at Professorpara on the basis of a complaint by the student, who had alleged inappropriate advances by him in the department on February 2.

The student, who belongs to Puducherry, had accused the Professor of calling her to the Seminar hall on February 2 under some pretext and made advances at her. She had reported the matter to the college authorities before deciding to lodge the police complaint on February 23.

In her complaint, the student alleged that the Professor had been making advances towards her since September last year. He has been alleged to have asked her to accompany him for dinner and conferences outside the State.

Police recorded the statement of the student as well as  some other witnesses in the incident. A pendrive containing recorded conversations between the accused and the reported victim on different occasions has also been handed over to the police by the latter as evidence.

On the other hand, the SCB Medical College and Hospital authorities have instituted a probe by a five-member internal committee on the allegations of the student. The student had appeared before the committee on Thursday.

The student is reported to be the daughter of a powerful political leader and a two-time Minister of Puducherry. Das was produced in court and sent to judicial custody, police said.

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