DMK MLA allegedly interfering in Bishop Heber College sexual harassment case, said to be coercing victims to drop charges

Following the arrest of CJ Paul Chandramohan who has been accused of sexual harassment by five post-graduate students, reports have emerged about alleged interference of a DMK MLA from Trichy trying to coerce the students to drop their allegation against the accused.

Chandramohan, the head of the Tamil Department in Bishop Heber College was arrested in the first week of July after several women had accused him of sexually assaulting them in the past.

In their five-page complaint lodged with the college’s principal, the five post-graduate students had said that Paul Chandramohan sexually harassed them regularly by sitting in close proximity and making comments with sexual innuendos.

The victim students also alleged that Paul Chandramohan engaged in various forms of sexual harassment, such as rubbing his legs against them. Nalini, an assistant professor in the Tamil department, reportedly forced the students to wash their faces and apply makeup before visiting the head of the department in his chamber.

Following the incident gaining traction, the college constituted a committee headed by lawyer Jayanthirani and suspended Paul Chandramohan. The police had also started an investigation into the allegations which led to his arrest.

Now in a startling development in the case, Tamil investigative magazine Junior Vikatan had published in its ‘Kazhugar‘ column about the interference of an MLA from Trichy interfering in the case.

In the issue dated 7th July 2021, it was mentioned that an MLA residing in the city has been approached to engage in negotiations with the five students who had levelled the allegations.

It was reported that they were being pressurized to take back their allegations against the accused so that the police can drop the investigation and close the case.

In their characteristic cryptic style, Junior Vikatan refers to the MLA as one ‘Inippu’ MLA (sweet in English) which seems like a reference to the MLA’s name.

Any guesses on who could be the said ‘Inippu’ MLA?

(With inputs from Junior Vikatan)

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