Bengaluru medical college professor defied campus ban, forcibly held girl's hand, booked for trespass

BENGALURU: What began as a bizarre classroom episode has escalated into a criminal case, with police booking a medical college assistant professor for allegedly proposing to a student during class - an incident that triggered outrage, protests and violence on the campus.

The accused, Abdul Rehman Sharif, 48, is attached to the department of microbiology at Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre in T Begur near Nelamangala. He was served a notice Thursday.Bengaluru Rural superintendent of police Chandrakanth MV said the professor's statement was recorded. "As the charges against him are punishable by less than seven years, he was served a notice. He has been asked to appear before the investigating officer again when summoned," he said.

College principal Divakar SV lodged a complaint with Nelamangala Rural police Thursday, shortly after videos of the professor allegedly proposing to the student in class went viral on social media.The principal stated that the college had earlier issued a notice to the professor over allegations of inappropriate behaviour. He added that the professor had been directed not to enter the campus until he was summoned for questioning.

However, the accused allegedly violated these instructions and entered the college campus on March 23.The complaint alleged that during his visit, the professor forcibly held the student's hand and behaved in an indecent manner during both afternoon and evening hours. The principal stated that the actions amounted not only to harassment but also to criminal trespass, as the professor ignored explicit directions to stay away from the institution.However, the principal's complaint does not specifically mention the classroom proposal incident that surfaced in viral videos. Based on the complaint, police have registered a case under BNS Sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 75(1) (sexual harassment), and 329 (criminal trespass and house-trespass).Bengaluru Rural police said further investigation is in progress.