Kalakshetra students call off protest after professor booked for sexual harassment

Students from the Kalakshetra Foundation’s Rukmini Devi Institute of Fine Arts in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, have stated that they will end their protest after Chennai police filed a FIR in the alleged sexual harassment case.

On Friday, Adayar Women Police filed a FIR in connection with the alleged Kalakshetra sexual harassment case. According to Chennai police, Professor Hari Padaman has been charged with numerous IPC sections, including sexual harassment, as well as pertinent parts of the Women Harassment Act.

According to the police, the charge has been filed under sections 354 (A), 509, and 4 of the Women Harassment Act.

The action was taken just days after students at the Kalakshetra Foundation’s Rukmini Devi Institute of Fine Arts in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, accused him of sexual harassment. Following the event, the Kalakshetra students’ union, which had been protesting the delay in action against the professor and others, decided to call it a day.

On Friday evening, Kalakshetra students produced a video in which they stated that they had abandoned their protest and thanked the chairwoman of the Tamil Nadu Women’s Commission, the media, law and order, and other government bodies.

The Students Union of the Kalakshetra Foundation’s Rukmini Devi Institute of Fine Arts in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, had written to the Union Culture Ministry requesting action against the institution’s Director and Head of the Dance Department.

Earlier on Thursday, the Kalakshetra Educational Institution was closed when students protested the lack of action taken against the professor who reportedly sexually harassed the pupils, according to institute officials. The students stated that the demonstration would continue till the college management provided a concrete response regarding official action against the lecturer.