Chhattisgarh Professor Jailed After Student Harassment Complaint

A professor in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh has been arrested following a complaint from a student who alleged that she received an obscene video from him on Telegram and was threatened with lower marks in her practical exam. The accused, Piyush Kant Netam, was presented in court and sent to judicial remand.

The student approached the City Kotwali police station in Kanker on October 27 and filed a formal complaint. She stated that on September 25, the accused sent her an obscene video through Telegram. According to her account, the professor had earlier made obscene conversation with her. She said that she did not react strongly at first, as he held a senior academic position. The situation changed for her after the video was allegedly sent and a threat over practical marks was made.

The complaint also states that the student did not share the matter with her family at the beginning, as she was frightened. When the pressure became unbearable, she informed her family about everything that had happened, and the matter was then reported to the police.

Police registered an offence against the accused and began investigating. Information later emerged that he was on the Agriculture College campus in Kanker. A police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Bhuneshwari Bhagat reached the campus and arrested him on October 28.

The accused faces charges under Sections 75(2), 75(3) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67(A) of the Information Technology Act. After his production before the court, he was sent to judicial remand. Police are continuing their probe into the allegations.