Booked for rape, sexually exploiting students, Hathras prof on the run

The professor has been suspended and is elusive after the Hathras police registered the FIR on Thursday; three teams have been constituted for his arrest

- HT Correspondent

LUCKNOW/MEERUT: An FIR has been lodged against a senior professor at a degree college in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh who has been accused of sexual harassment and exploitation of women students for the past 20 years, according to the police.

The accused professor, Rajneesh Kumar, 59, also recorded obscene videos, 59 of which were leaked online. The accused professor, who also held the position of chief proctor, was suspended by the state government run Seth Phool Chand Bagla (P. G.) College administration on Saturday.

The case has gained attention not just in Hathras but in Lucknow as well. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognizance of the matter and directed the police to take strict and immediate action.

Hathras superintendent of police (SP), Chiranjeev Nath Sinha confirmed that an FIR under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered against the professor at Hathras Gate police station on Thursday (March 13) on the complaint of a sub-inspector as none of the victims turned up.

He said the professor is elusive since then and three teams have been constituted for his arrest.

"After primary investigation, an FIR has been registered at Hathras Gate police station. A dedicated team has been tasked to arrest the absconding accused. We are trying to identify the victims and produce them before magistrate to record their statement," said Sinha.

The SP said the FIR was lodged after information was given by UP State Women Commission on receiving an anonymous complaint from a victim addressed to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, and other authorities.