New Delhi:Â Facing criticism over handling of the research scholar molestation case, St Stephen’s principal Valson Thampu on Monday said he would resign if it was proved that “he was a cause of embarrassment to the institution”.
Thampu, who is facing demands for resignation for allegedly pressurising the victim to withdraw the complaint, said he had full faith in the Delhi police and slammed the “extra-judicial pressure”.
“If I am a cause of embarrassment to the institution and it is objectively proved, I will put in my papers that very moment,” Thampu, who has been embroiled in controversies ever since he took over as college’s principal in 2008, said.
Earlier, a section of students, teachers and women rights activists took to the streets protesting against the alleged molestation of a research scholar at St Stephen’s College and demanded the principal’s resignation.
The college principal Valson Thamphu has already demanded a CBI probe into the issue alleging that “the victim is being used against him”, the protestors demanded that he be removed from office pending an enquiry against him.
Activists from All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Centre for Struggling Women (CSW), Saheli and All India Progressive Women Association (AIPWA), among other women organisations, also joined  in demanding Thampu’s resignation and justice for the victim.
Quick Recap
A research scholar has alleged that she was molested by an assistant professor in the college’s Chemistry department. The accused Satish Kumar, who was supervising her PhD, had also threatened to pour sulphuric acid on her.
The complainant has also alleged that Thampu had tried to shield Kumar and pressurised her to not treat the issue as that of sexual harassment. In support of her argument, she had also made public a set of recordings which she claimed she had made during her meetings with the principal regarding the issue.
Thampu, however, has discarded them as “mischievously edited” tapes maintaining that a forensic investigation of them will clear the air.
The protestors also demanded that with the probe being underway, the university should change the victim’s research supervisor so her PhD doesn’t suffer.