Two Professors Arrested for Sexual Assault and Blackmail of Student at Andhra Pradesh University

The accused professors were taken into custody on December 9 (Representational).

Hyderabad:

Two assistant professors at a central university in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati have been detained following allegations from a student regarding sexual assault, harassment, and blackmail. The victim, a 27-year-old B.Ed student from Odisha, reported that Dr Lakshman Kumar abused his position of authority, enticed her, and sexually assaulted her within his office premises.

According to the student's complaint, another professor, Dr A Shekhar Reddy, was present during the incident and allegedly captured photographs. Reddy subsequently threatened the woman that he would distribute the visual evidence on social media platforms. Following the student's appeal to the anti-sexual harassment committee, the university's acting Registrar, Professor Rajanikant Shukla, filed an official complaint on December 6.

READ: Ex-Nurse Loses Life Savings Worth Rs 48 Lakh In Digital Arrest, 3 Arrested

Law enforcement registered a case under various sections of the BNS Act. A specialized police team traveled to the student's hometown in Odisha to record her testimony, examine the location of the alleged assault, and gather evidence. Both Kumar and Shukla were apprehended on December 9 and presented before the court. The university has also suspended both accused professors.

Tirupati's Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhaktavatsalam emphasized that stringent measures will be implemented in all cases involving harassment of women. The police department has encouraged students to report such incidents without hesitation, guaranteeing that the identities of complainants will be kept confidential.