VJTI professor booked for sexual harassment

MUMBAI: The Matunga police on Monday registered a first information report (FIR) against professor B.G. Bilapatte, head of mathematics at premier engineering-technical institute, Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), on charges of molestation and sexual harassment of a 20-year-old student on May 18.

As per the student’s complaint, the incident occurred on May 18 when she approached the professor for his signature on a journal. Allegedly, he asked her to wait and at 5.15 pm, when the other staff had left for the day, he took her to his cabin and molested her. The incident came to light when the student registered a formal complaint against the professor with the women’s development cell (WDC) of VJTI.

As no action was taken despite her complaint, the student decided to contact the Yuva Seva, the youth wing of the Shiv Sena, for help. On Monday, after a Yuva Sena delegation barged into the cabin of VJTI director and professor, Dhiren Patel, the institute finally decided to lodge a complaint with the police and also set up an internal investigation committee to probe the charges. The Matunga police Monday evening registered a case against the accused under sections 354 (molestation) and 354 A (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code.

Balasahed Kakad, senior police inspector, Matunga police station, said, “We have registered a complaint, and the probe is underway. The allegations are yet to be verified by the police.” A. Ambika, deputy commissioner of police (zone 4), said, “The complaint has been registered and the accused has been booked. Simultaneously, to look into the matter from the institute’s side, an internal committee has been formed.”

The Asian Age tried contacting Mr Patel and Dr. S.G Bhirud, registrar of VJTI, multiple times, but both did not respond.