A professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi is under investigation after 11 students filed a sexual harassment complaint with the university’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), university sources said.
The complaint was filed in May, following which the ICC began proceedings and called several students to record their statements. The issue resurfaced after students returned from a nearly 45-day semester break in mid-July.
Allegations During Viva Examinations
The professor allegedly made inappropriate remarks with sexual connotations during viva examinations held in the first week of May.
In the following week, one student reportedly shared her experience on an unofficial WhatsApp group, after which several other students came forward with similar allegations.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the professor allegedly suggested that students could receive additional marks if they accepted his sexual advances.
An ICC complaint was subsequently submitted, and several students have since recorded their statements as part of the inquiry.
Previous Sexual Harassment Case at JNU
The latest complaint comes amid a previous sexual harassment case involving a senior JNU faculty member.
In April 2025, the university’s executive council dismissed four staff members, including senior professor Swaran Singh of the School of International Studies, who had been accused of sexually harassing a Japanese official from the Embassy of Japan.
The official, who reportedly coordinated academic events with JNU professors, filed a complaint following a meeting with Singh. Multiple complaints had allegedly been made against him in the past, according to an official familiar with the matter.
The alleged incident took place in May 2024. The ICC subsequently conducted an extensive inquiry, allowing both sides to present their statements. Singh was later dismissed after the committee reportedly considered evidence, including audio recordings.
