Bishop Heber College Prof Paul arrested by Trichy police on sexual harassment charges

Trichy, July 8: Trichy police arrested CJ Paul Chandramohan, a Tamil professor and Head of Department of Tamil at Bishop Heber College on charges of sexual harassment. Several women had accused Paul Chandrmohan of assaulting them in the past.

 

 

According to the reports, a group of five female students in March this year had had lodged a complaint with the college’s principal, alleging that Paul Chandra was assaulting them during offline classes.

 

 

Following the sexual harassment complaint, the college has constituted a seven-member Internal Complaints Committee headed by lawyer Jayanthirani. In April, the committee submitted its report, finding prima facie evidence against him. However, he was placed under suspension only on June 30.

 

 

Since no further action or inquiry was carried out, the Trichy District Collector S Sivarasu suo motu constituted a committee to probe the sexual harassment allegation against Paul, the news website reported.

 

 

Bishop Heber College is a private college run by the Thanjavur Diocese of the Church of South India and is government-aided. The District Committee carried out an inquiry with the college authorities on July 2 and with the student complainants on July 3.

 

 

The Trichy unit of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on July 6, also carried out a protest demanding legal action against the suspended professor. Besides, Paul Chandramohan holds a PhD in Tamil Christian Literature and has served in the college for over 20 years.