A senior faculty member of the leading Ahmedabad-based design school,National Institute of Design (NID) has been expelled following several complaints of sexual harassment against him by students. Krishnesh Mehta was allowed to resign and be relieved with immediate effect after he expressed regret and tendered an apology, the institute said in a release on Saturday.

A committee set up by NID had found the charges of sexual harassment genuine, and recommended his termination as a faculty member.

“Based on the enquiry report and findings, a show cause notice was issued to Krishnesh Mehta, and as it is a repeat offence, why his services should not be terminated. The reply given by him was not satisfactory nor was [he] showing any signs of remorse and therefore it was decided to terminate his services,” the Institute stated in a release on Saturday.

“Being a senior faculty member, regretting his conduct and behaviour, and preferring to leave the services instead of being terminated, his request was considered and he was relieved from the services of NID with effect from the October 5th,” the release added.

A group of students had complained about undesirable and out-of-syllabus references to sexuality and sexual relations and behaviour in Mr. Mehta’s classes.

In the past, based on a complaint pertaining to his behavior amounting to sexual harassment, for which he tendered a written apology, he was awarded the punishment of the stoppage of one increment, and was also issued a strong warning that such conduct would be dealt with sternly in the future.

“He is not being allowed to even enter the campus,” NID-Ahmedabad Director Pradhyumana Vyas said.