JNU professor, arrested in sexual harassment case, granted bail

The Delhi Police had registered eight FIRs against JNU professor Atul Johri of alleged sexual misconduct.

New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested professor Atul Johri of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for allegedly sexually harassing several women students. Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi Range) Ajay Chaudhary confirmed his arrest. He was later produced in a court.

However, he was later granted bail by Delhi's Patiala House Court.

The students of the university had been demanding the arrest of the professor for a couple of days now. Students of School of Life Sciences, with which Johri is associated, had locked down the school demanding his arrest.

"Four days after eight women students came forward with sexual harassment complaints against the professor, no action has been taken against him and just one FIR has been lodged," Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) vice president Simone Zoya Khan had said earlier.

Besides the students, JNU professors too had been demanding action against Johri. Accusing the police of disregarding the procedures, 54 professors of the university had earlier on Tuesday demanded registration of separate FIRs on the basis of all eight sexual harassment complaints against him.

The police later registered multiple FIRs against Johri. "We have recorded the statements of the complainants. A few more female students have approached the police and levelled similar allegations against Johri. The investigation is being closely monitored by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Monika Bhardwaj," Chaudhary had said earlier.

Launching a massive protest, the students had raised slogans against the university officials and Delhi Police. A scuffle had broken out when some of them had tried to break the barricades put up by the police.

On the other hand, women rights organisations including All India Democratic Women's Association and All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghatan had also held a protest on Tuesday outside the police station.

(With Agency inputs)