Pune PhD student dies by suicide; 50-year-old scientist arrested for ‘mental and sexual harassment’

PUNE: A 50-year-old scientist and research guide with a central govt research institute in Pune was arrested on Saturday on charges of abetting a 30-year-old PhD student's death by suicide after he allegedly sexually and mentally harassed her.

The PhD student of botany was found hanging by a dupatta tied to the ceiling fan of her room in her house in Chinchwad on Saturday afternoon. A magisterial court in Pimpri on Sunday ordered the guide's remand in police custody till April 15.

"A note purportedly written by her said the research guide was not only mentally harassing her, but would behave inappropriately. We have arrested the man for offences under section 108 (abetment of suicide) and 74 (outraging modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on the woman's note and a complaint lodged by her father," investigating officer inspector Bhojraj Misal of the Bhosari MIDC police, which made the arrest, told TOI.

"The note recovered from the site will be sent to handwriting experts for analysis," he added.

Senior police inspector Ganesh Jamdar said, "The note said the PhD guide's misbehaviour and mental harassment had led her to take the extreme step."

Misal said, "The woman's father said in the complaint that since Aug, last year, the accused would misbehave and mentally harass his daughter."

The officer said the student was under stress for the last few days and had informed her parents about everything. "Her parents approached the institute and the guide. The latter gave the woman a written apology, saying such things will not happen again. However, the woman hanged herself. Her parents came to know when there was no response from her room," Misal said.

The police immediately arrested the accused after receiving the complaint, Misal said, adding: "Investigations are on."


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