CHENNAI: On the recommendation of a five-member inquiry panel, IIT Madras has suspended professor Ashish Kumar Sen of the mechanical engineering department over the March 31 suicide of research scholar Sachin Kumar Jain, reports Ragu Raman.
Prof Sen was suspended last week by the board of governors. Sources said the inquiry committee recommended his suspension after other students confirmed harassment by him.In his complaint, Sachin’s brother Bhawesh Kumar Jain sought a detailed inquiry into allegations of harassment by Prof Sen and the circumstances leading to the suicide of his brother.
After protests by students on campus, the IIT Madras administration in April formed a five-member inquiry panel headed by former DGP G Thilakavathi to probe the suicide. After interviewing students, faculty members, and deans, the committee submitted its report in August. “There is no physical evidence. The committee interviewed all students from the lab, nearby labs, and those who had graduated. Their testimony proved that it was not the first instance and there were many cases of harassment,” a member of the five-member panel told TOI.
In a response to TOI’s query, IIT Madras said: “Professor Ashish Sen has been suspended based on the direction of the board of governors. Institute is following all due procedures.”
Prof Sen was suspended last week by the board of governors. Sources said the inquiry committee recommended his suspension after other students confirmed harassment by him.In his complaint, Sachin’s brother Bhawesh Kumar Jain sought a detailed inquiry into allegations of harassment by Prof Sen and the circumstances leading to the suicide of his brother.
After protests by students on campus, the IIT Madras administration in April formed a five-member inquiry panel headed by former DGP G Thilakavathi to probe the suicide. After interviewing students, faculty members, and deans, the committee submitted its report in August. “There is no physical evidence. The committee interviewed all students from the lab, nearby labs, and those who had graduated. Their testimony proved that it was not the first instance and there were many cases of harassment,” a member of the five-member panel told TOI.
In a response to TOI’s query, IIT Madras said: “Professor Ashish Sen has been suspended based on the direction of the board of governors. Institute is following all due procedures.”
