In Tamil Nadu, a Christian college professor named Leo Standly who has been sexually abusing a female student and harassing her mother as well has been ‘suspended’. As per Tamil media reports the girl had to undergo an abortion due to repeated sexual abuse.
The student in question has alleged that there was a serious lack of action from the church-run college management. However, what is even more shocking is that many other girls have also fallen victim to sexual harassment. It has come to light that the professor has alleged support from a political party that is helping suppress the incident and ensure he escapes punishment.
Leo Standly is an Assistant Professor of the Chemistry department at St. Joseph’s College in Trichy and was suspended by the college only after his victim attempted suicide. Standly had used his influence to get close to this girl an undergraduate student of the Chemistry department on the pretext of helping her.
There are reports wherein it has been suggested that the victim’s family was undergoing personal issues and during this trying time, the professor saw it as an opportunity to take advantage. As per an investigative report published in Tamilaga Arasiyal, the professor raped her and then threatened the victim by revealing details and used it as leverage to further sexually abuse her.
It did not end there, he also saw an opportunity to harass her mother as well. Excerpts from the report published in Tamilaga Arasiyal in English reads….
“You look like a heroine, dear. I like you very much. I love you de chellam (Dear in Tamil). Call me when your grandma is away”, he told the victim. When she refused to submit to his demands, he threatened her with marks as well. Looks like you have become emboldened. I have your papers with me. I know how to suppress it (boldness)”.
As per reports, the girl’s parents had separated, and the professor saw that as an opportunity to fill the vacuum to project himself as a ‘fatherly’ figure and saw it fit best to emotionally manipulate her.
From reports published, it is clear that Leo Standly is a typical sociopath who used his office to manipulate and trap one of his students and sexually abuse her. He also saw the mother as being vulnerable and targeted her by assuring her of employment and monetary help.
One of the extracts translated from Tamil to English states, that Leo Standly on one occasion, forcibly grabbed the hands of the victim’s mother even though she folded them in response. She said, “He told me, ‘I have arranged for a job for you. You’ll definitely get it. Give me your hand’ and grabbed my hands despite my resistance and didn’t drop it for 5 minutes. I understood that he acted that way, knowing that I’m separated from my husband. He made sexual innuendos saying, “I’ll come to your house. Do you need money? I’ll give you. How many lakhs do you need? I am alone. You get it right?”.
Leo Standly also built an aura as a social activist and spoke on behalf of women’s rights and said that female students were his sisters and even held protests for what was happening in Manipur.
After some time, the victim could not take it anymore and filed a complaint with the college administration. However, the college administration which is run by Catholic priests did not take any action. sat on it. It was only after the victim reportedly attempted suicide and was admitted to the hospital, the action was taken.
It has also now emerged that Leo Standly sought help from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, a ‘Dalit’ political party and ally of DMK to escape punishment, and try to put pressure on the victim and the college administration. If that was not enough, his wife filed a complaint under the SC ST Prevention of Atrocities Act claiming that he was being discriminated against based on his caste.
However, after an investigation, the Vishaka committee found the professor guilty and that led to his suspension for only six months.
(With inputs from HinduPost and Kamadhenu)
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.