Stephen’s row: Alumni, others flay vandalism complaint by Thampu

The college authorities had on Thursday filed a complaint against Devansh Mehta for allegedly “trespassing” the campus and vandalising a lab. He had allegedly accompanied the research scholar, who has accused a college professor of molesting her, to the lab.

The victim and Mehta had also filed a complaint, alleging that they were denied access to the Chemistry lab. They said when they tried to enter forcibly, they were locked inside the lab. They further alleged that the compounds, which the scholar had prepared during three years of her research, were found destroyed inside the lab. No FIR has been registered yet in both the cases.

While Thampu has claimed “there is a lot to be read between the lines about Mehta and sexual harassment victim coming together”, a group of college alumni on Friday condemned the principal’s act and questioned why DU authorities are silent over such happenings at the institution.

“Nothing has been done so far about the sexual harassment complaint. The victim’s guide has not been changed and her stipend not released yet. Thampu is repetitively attacking Devansh Mehta by denying him a character certificate and filing a vandalism complaint,” said the Old Stephanians Association, an alumni body not recognised by college.

“Why is the Vice-Chancellor silent over principal’s act of playing with students’ future? Why has the victim’s guide not been changed yet? We request the HRD Ministry to institute a fact-finding committee to investigate the sexual harassment complaint,” it added.

Women activist Kavita Krishnan from the All-India Progressive Women’s Association said: “While Thampu alleges that he is being hounded as an animal, he is subjecting the students to harassment and also everyone else who comes out in their support.” 

Student editor Mehta, who had approached the High Court in April to secure stay on his suspension order issued by Thampu for publishing an e-zine without clearance on content, called the vandalism complaint part of a “larger conspiracy”.

Thampu has termed the entire episode a “constructed conspiracy”.