Kalakshetra Sexual Harassment: Chennai Court Grants Bail To Faculty Member

The Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Saidapet, has granted bail to Hari Padman, a faculty member of Rukmini Devi College, operated by Kalakshetra foundation, who has been accused of sexually harassing students.

The allegations came to light after a former director of the foundation made a Facebook post in December 2022, accusing the male teacher of molesting and threatening students. Following the allegations, several other students also came forward with similar accounts of sexual harassment, prompting a protest by students demanding action. As a result, the college suspended Padman from his position.

A former student of the college lodged a police complaint, leading to the All Women Police in Adyar booking Padman under sections 354A (sexual harassment), 509 (use of words, gestures, or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, and section 4 of the T.N. Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act (penalty for harassment of women).

Previously, Padman had approached the Madras High Court seeking bail, but the petition was later withdrawn. During the hearing, another bail petition filed by Padman was taken up by Justice AD Jagadish Chandira. However, Padman’s counsel informed the court that he had already been granted bail, resulting in the withdrawal of the petition, which the court allowed.

Previously, when a group of students had approached the court for framing of policy against sexual harassment and reconstitution of the complaints committee, the court had issued directions to the foundation for the same.