Court acquits Professor in 2014 sexual harassment case

The Additional Sessions Court IV, Thodupuzha, has acquitted a college professor in a sexual harassment case filed against him by his students in 2014.

The judge, Laijumol Sherif, acquitted him of the charges recently.

In September 2014, five girl students lodged complaints with the Education Minister and the Kerala Women’s Commission against Anand Viswanathan, former Head of the Economics department at Munnar Government College and then additional chief examiner, of making sexual advances towards them. Based on their statements, the police registered four cases. Investigations later revealed that the students had conspired to frame Prof. Viswanathan after they were caught cheating in the examination hall, allegedly with the support of an invigilator and college authorities.

“The examination [second-semester MA Economics] was held without following university guidelines and widespread malpractice took place. Out of the eight students who appeared, I noticed five female students engaging in mass copying. I asked the invigilator to report the malpractice to the university,” recalled the Professor.

The college closed the next day for Onam vacation and reopened on September 17. “When I returned, the Principal informed me that five female students had filed sexual harassment complaints against me.”

After the Munnar police registered a case against him, Prof. Vishwanathan was suspended and, three months later, was transferred to Malappuram district. “The college authorities reconstituted the internal inquiry committee with their own nominees. I was not allowed to present my side,” he added.

Later, at his request, the Controller of Examinations appointed a two-member panel to investigate the malpractice issue and the panel confirmed that copying had indeed taken place.

Appeal filed

Despite this, in 2021, a Devikulam court sentenced him to three years in prison. “I filed an appeal before the Thodupuzha Sessions Court and now, after years of struggle, I have been acquitted of all charges,” he said with relief.

“Two students from Tamil Nadu and three from Kerala had filed the false complaint. During the trial, they admitted that the complaint was prepared at the CPI(M) office in Munnar,” Prof. Vishwanathan alleged.

“My family was clearly aware of the issues and they provided full support to me,” he added.

“To avoid such incidents in society, I plan to file defamation cases against those who were behind the false sexual allegations,” said Prof. Vishwanathan.