Leela Samson, the former director of Kalakshetra Foundation whose Facebook post was instrumental in starting the sexual harassment controversy surrounding the institution, has failed to appear before the National Commission for Women for enquiry.
In her now-deleted Facebook post, Leela had accused a teacher (who she did not name) of sexual harassment and even linked him with another girl student calling her his ‘mistress’.
She had also written in her Facebook “A public institution, a haven of the highest art and contemplation — now turning a blind eye to how young girls are treated. They are vulnerable. A male member of the staff is known to be threatening and molesting them, who are not yet adults.”.
In another Facebook post she accused the entire staff of knowing about the “malaise in Kalakshetra” but turning a blind eye.
“These teachers simply do not have a conscience. As long as what is happening is happening, to someone else’s daughter and not their own.”, she had written.
Leela Samson’s Facebook posts along with articles published by the likes of The News Minute had snowballed into a controversy with full fledged protests by students with the institution closing down temporarily.
The Kalakshetra Foundation’s board of directors had formed an independent inquiry committee to look into allegations of sexual harassment leveled against several teachers. In addition to suspending Padman pending the outcome of the investigation, the board had also terminated the services of three other teaching faculty members: Sanjith Lal, Sai Krishnan, and Sreenath. Haripadman is now in Puzhal jail with his bail application being rejected by the Saidapet court.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) which had taken cognizance of the case has so far found no evidence to support the allegations.
The NCW has been asking concerned persons to appear before them to take necessary action.
In light of this, the NCW had asked Leela Samson to present herself before the commission on 11 April 2023.
However, Leela Samson through her lawyer Vrinda Grover had e-mailed the commission on 7 April 2023 that she was in Australia and that she is due for travel to India.
“She will be in Kochi, and then arrive in New Delhi, where she will be in quarantine for one week as per Covid protocols since she is a senior citizen with heightened vulnerability to Covid.”, wrote Vrinda Grover representing Leela Samson adding that for the next two weeks or so, Leela would not be able to present herself physically before the commission.
Citing these circumstances, Leela Samson requested time to present herself before the commission on any date after 25 April 2023.
The NCW accepted to the postponement of hearing adding that the they will inform the next date shortly.
However, it is worth mentioning that Leela has been in India for a while now. Her claims of being in Australia at the time of sending the email is being disputed. There are no dates given in the email about when she will be coming to India.
Leela’s e-mail itself has left people baffled as she had mentioned that she will be coming to Kochi first and then to Delhi where she will be quarantined for a week. However, if she is coming into India through Kochi, she will have to quarantine herself in Kochi and not Delhi.
Even if one has to go by her claims, Leela Samson was not found quarantining in Delhi but was found loitering around in Mumbai.
Leela Samson was in Mumbai to participate in the cultural programmes at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. (NMACC)
On 19 April 2023, a picture of her posing with a group of dancers at the NMACC popped on social media.
On 20 April 2023, NMACC had shared a video on their social media in which Leela says “I’m so very happy that we’re performing here tonight…We had enjoyed both days. This is our second day.” indicating that she has been in Mumbai since 19 April 2023.
She was found loitering around with her dance company in the streets of Mumbai.
It is to be noted that, Leela Samson in her email to the NCW through her lawyer had made no mention of her travel plans to Mumbai.
A few sources inside Kalakshetra have questioned why she has not yet made herself available to the NCW despite being present in India, especially since she had levelled serious charges against Kalakshetra.
“Why has she not taken it seriously and attended the summon to explain whatever she knows”, an alumni of Kalakshetra questioned.
One of the girls whom she had named in her Facebook post says that her career and reputation has been destroyed, and is in near depression due to the false allegations against her, while Leela is going around with her performances.
About Leela Samson
Leela Samson was the director of Kalakshetra Foundation till April 2012. She was forced to resign after a former Kalakshetra teacher CS Thomas filed a writ petition against her in 2011 for holding on to the post, despite turning 60, the age limite for government personnel.
A CAG report from her tenure at Kalakshetra accused the organization of financial irregularities. Irregularities in appointment were reported by Principal Accountant-General (PAG), Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. According to the report, “16 appointments made during Leela Samson’s tenure were not as per the rules/norms prescribed for the same and hence irregular”.
In 2019, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a corruption case against Leela Samson and 3 other Kalakshetra officials for financial irregularities.
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