‘Lachar beti’ case: UP prof acquitted after students withdraw sex abuse charges

AGRA: A fast-track court in Hathras has acquitted a college professor in the ‘Lachar Beti’ case after the three women presented as victims withdrew their allegations in court, unravelling a prosecution that had accused him of rape, sexual harassment and abuse of authority.

The case against professor Rajneesh Kumar, 59, first surfaced through an anonymous complaint sent in the name of ‘Lachar Beti’, or helpless daughter, to the chairperson of the National Commission for Women. Attached to it were photographs and videos that allegedly showed Kumar touching female students inappropriately in a college. Police registered an FIR at Hathras Gate police station under BNS sections 64(2) (rape), 68 (sexual intercourse by a person in authority) and 75 (sexual harassment), along with provisions of the IT Act, on the complaint of sub-inspector Sunil Kumar.

Investigators alleged that Kumar had exploited students for years by promising them job opportunities and better marks and by threatening to circulate obscene videos.

After the FIR, he went into hiding and was arrested in Prayagraj on March 19 last year while trying to secure anticipatory bail. But when the matter came up for trial, none of the three women supported the prosecution’s account in court. Defence lawyer Virender Singh said, “The court on Tuesday acquitted my client due to lack of evidence and the statements given by the women.”

He added that the women told the court “the statement against the professor was given after being pressured by the police” and that investigators had failed to produce “any authentic certificate about the video and photos of the women and my client”.

The court also found substantial gaps in the handling of the digital evidence. It said, “No evidence is on file regarding where the DVD was first produced, by whom, where it was sent, whether the video contained in the DVD was examined by an expert, or whether any certificate was obtained to the effect that the video contained in the DVD is not likely to have been tampered with.” With those questions unresolved, the court said, “The possibility cannot be ruled out that the said video may have been fabricated and sent by someone with the sole purpose of framing the accused.” It held that the charges against Kumar were not proved beyond reasonable doubt and said he “deserves to be acquitted of the charges”.