Symbiosis Law School Nagpur professor sent on leave over student's allegations; no police complaint yet

Tension gripped the campus of Symbiosis Law School at Wathoda in Nagpur after a student alleged that a professor had sent her objectionable messages. The professor has been sent on leave until an internal inquiry is completed. Police have clarified that no formal written complaint has been filed so far.

Dr Sukhvinder Singh Dari, director of Symbiosis Law School Nagpur, said the professor concerned will remain on leave until the outcome of the internal inquiry. The professor has also been instructed not to come to the campus or take part in academic work during this period. The decision was taken as attention on the allegations grew and tension prevailed on the campus.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Nityanand Jha said neither the student nor her parents had so far given the police a formal written complaint. Police said that although the allegations were being widely discussed on social media, the situation was calm and no law-and-order problem had been reported on the campus.

Activity on the campus rose in two phases on Saturday. In the morning, around 15 to 17 representatives of various organisations gathered at the university gate and protested over the matter. Police mediated and arranged talks between these organisations and the university management. Officers kept in touch with the administration, and the situation remained under control.

Tension was seen again at around 6.45 pm. About 15 to 20 people came to the university along with the student and her father. At about the same time, the institution's internal inquiry committee had called an open house session, and roughly 100 to 120 students had gathered on the campus for it.

Police managed the crowd. A delegation of six to seven people, including the student, was permitted to meet the administration. During the discussion, the inquiry committee assured the delegation that the allegations would be examined thoroughly and appropriate action would be taken within a set period.

Deputy Commissioner Jha reiterated that the overall situation was calm and that law and order on the campus had not been disturbed. Police are in coordination with the university administration. Police also appealed to students, parents and citizens not to spread unverified claims and not to believe rumours on social media.

For now, the matter is at the stage of an internal inquiry, and no formal complaint has been registered with the police. What happens next will depend on the findings of the inquiry and on the subsequent action by the authorities concerned.