Woman lecturer held over advice to students to 'adjust' with officials; Guv orders probe

Chennai: A woman lecturer of a private college in Tamil Nadu was arrested in connection with her alleged advise to students "to adjust with some officials" in return for higher marks and money, in what is seen as a suggestion for a sexual favour.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, the Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University to which the college is affiliated, set up a 'high powered enquiry' committee to look into 'certain immoral' happenings surrounding the lecturer. The lecturer of Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar District, about 500 km from Chennai, was alleged to have made the overtures a month ago. But, the issue came to light on Monday after audio of a purported conversation between her and some students went viral in the social media.

In the audio, she is heard suggesting that the girls adjust with some (education) officials, "for getting 85 percent mark and money." Hours after a complaint was lodged by the college and a local women's association, police this evening arrested the lecturer at her residence in Aruppukottai. She has been booked under IPC sections 370 (Buying or disposing of any person as a slave) and 511 (Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with life or other imprisonment) and under the Information Technology Act, police said.

High drama preceded the arrest as the woman allegedly locked herself in her house and a 50-strong police team broke open the back door and detained her. The Governor in a statement in Chennai said retired IAS official R Santhanam will conduct the probe and the decision was taken based on a report from the university. "There have been widespread reports in the press and social media about certain immoral happenings in a college in Aruppukottai, in which references to Madurai Kamaraj University have also been made," he said. "It is important to inquire into such matters immediately and without prejudice so that the guilty do not escape without punishment," the Governor said.