The Symbiosis International University (SIU) has suspended two faculty members of the Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication (SCMC) on charges of alleged sexual harassment.
The decision comes soon after the SIU last week sent the SCMC director Anupam Siddhartha on leave pending an inquiry.
At least 10 girl students from the SCMC have alleged harassment at the hands of their peers and some faculty members, with the accusations flying thick and fast on social media early this month as the #MeToo movement gathered momentum.
Principal Director of the Symbiosis Society, Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, said that an inquiry was conducted by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) constituted to look into allegations made by the students against Mr. Siddhartha and faculty members regarding disciplinary and administrative issues.
Following the interim report, two faculty members, Suhas Gatane and Vijay Shelar, have been suspended and allegations against Mr. Siddhartha, who was accused of inaction on harassment complaints against some faculty members, were being probed, Dr. Yeravdekar said.
“In the midst of this investigation, we received a letter on Friday evening, signed by 106 students which made some shocking allegations against him [Mr. Siddhartha]. We immediately referred it to the ICC, which called him on Saturday for investigations. The committee has said that he should stay away from campus duties pending an inquiry,” Dr. Yeravdekar said.