HC stays St Stephen prof’s arrest till Aug 17
The Delhi High Court on Friday stayed the arrest of St Stephen’s college professor Satish Kumar, who has been accused of molesting a PhD student, till August 17.
Justice Indermeet Kaur also issued notice to Delhi Police on Kumar’s plea directing it to file a status report with regard to the progress made in the investigation of the case before next date of hearing.
“Notice. Status report be filed by the respondent (Delhi Police). Meanwhile, the petitioner (Kumar) should join the investigation as and when asked by the respondent,” the judge said, adding that till next date of hearing, August 17, the petitioner will not be arrested.
The court’s order came on the plea filed by Kumar, an Assistant Professor in the college’s Chemistry Department, challenging the trial court’s June 23 order by which the relief sought by him was declined.
Senior advocate N Hariharan, appearing for Kumar, sought anticipatory bail, claiming that the allegations levelled by the girl were “concocted” and there was not a single eyewitness to any of the incidents mentioned in the complaint.
Hariharan, also assisted by advocate Nitin Kumar Swaroop, informed the court that most of the allegations levelled by the girl were of October 2013 and the mail she had annexed in the complaint clearly says that her work was not in progress so she had sought help from the accused.
“No allegation of molestation was levelled in the mail or the complaint she (girl) wrote to the college principal. The allegation levelled in the FIR were false and fabricated,” Kumar’s counsel said.
Kumar’s plea for relief also stated that the professor could not have molested or followed the girl as he was 85% physically disabled and walked with the help of a stick.
However, the counsel appearing for Delhi Police opposed Kumar’s anticipatory bail on Thursday saying the complainant (girl) handed over tape of the conversation between accused and the principal in her presence and Kumar was heard influencing the college head.
