The Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Andhra University, Prof. K. Yedukonadalu, allegedly indulging in sexual harassment of girl students, is not just the only case. There have been a number of such allegations from PG and research scholars in the past.
Such allegations surfaced against Prof, Yedukondalu himself in 2014, and after an internal inquiry he was stripped of the headship.
In the past Prof. J. Rama Naidu from the department of economics, Andhra University School of Distance Education, was exposed by a TV channel in a sting operation for allegedly seeking sexual favours from a student, who had come to collect her pass certificate, in 2012.
He was suspended after a report from an inquiry committee and later reinstated after being demoted from professor to associate professor.
In 2011, the then Principal of College Arts College, AU, Prof. Balla Appa Rao, was embroiled in a similar controversy, when a research scholar alleged sexual harassment by the professor.
Yedukondalu clarifies
Meanwhile, Prof. Yedukondalu has said that the allegations were false and baseless. According to him, the students were indulging in such allegations on him as he did not agree to manage their attendance as per the exam eligibility norms. “I told them to get approval from the Vice-Chancellor and that is why they are unhappy,” he said.
Cases booked
Meanwhile, based on a complaint filed by the students at the Three Town Police station, the police have booked cases under IPC Section 354 A for making sexually coloured remarks and offence of sexual harassment and IPC Section 509 for using words or gestures or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.