States »SoutPosted at: May 24 2021 3:59PM Sexual harassment charges : Teacher of highly reputed PSBB school under police scanner
Chennai, May 24 (UNI) A teacher of the highly repoted PSBB school,
which runs a chain of schools across the city, has been detained for
interrogation following sexual harassment charges and misconduct.
The allegals of of sexual harassment and misconduct against the
Commerce and Accountancy teacher Rajagopalan, working in the
school's KK Nagar branch, surfaced on social media and it soon
went viral after a group of students who are currently studying in
the school, shared them on Sunday night.
The allegations made by the students were initially shared on the
Instagram page of a former student of the school, who said that
some students reached out to her to ask if students from her batch
had faced such sexual misconduct from Rajagopalan.
“After receiving the first message, I put out a message asking the
students currently studying in the school to get in touch with me
about the same. After speaking to a few of them, I shared their
experiences,” the former student said, adding, several students
responded to her messages and shared instances of Rajagopalan’s
inappropriate behaviour- both during physical classes as well as
during virtual classes.
A student alleged that the teacher has been asking them to send
pictures of them to him and two other students shared that he had
engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour in class.
Reacting to the shocking development, Ms Sheela Rajendra, Dean,
Director and Correspondent, PSBB Group of Schools and Geetha
Govindarajan, PSBB K.K. Nagar Principal said they are taking suo
motu cognizance of the allegations and will take necessary steps to
address the situation in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Whlie denying the charge that the matter has been brought to the
attention of the school management in the past, they said in a
statement that ''the welfare of our students has always been and
will be our top priority”.
They also promised the students that an appropriate action will
be taken on the matter.
The said the school has zero tolerance towards any behaviour
that adversely affects the physical, emotional and psychological
well being of our students.
The Chennai City Police's special wing, Crime against Women
and Children took cognisance of the allegations against the faculty
member and the school.
On the instruction of the City Police Commissioner, a special team
led by Deputy Commissioner, Crime against Women and Children
(CWC) wing H.Jayalakshmi, is enquiring into the allegations.
Reacting to it, Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh
Poyyamozhi said that he has directed the School Education department
officials to look into the allegations.
Joining issue, DMK MP Kanimozhi tweeted on Monday that the sexual
harassment allegations against a commerce teacher in PSBB School
were shocking.
“Inquiry should be conducted and action must be taken against those
who are involved, including school authorities who failed to act against
the complaints from students. I promise to take this to the concerned
authorities,” she said.
Former Union Minister and DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, in a tweet, said,
as a parent he was extremely horrified by the reports of sexual harassment
by a teacher in PSBB.
“It’s of utmost importance to ensure a probe into the matter and accountability
from the management to provide a safe environment for the children,” he added.
PMK Founder Dr S Ramadoss also condemned the incident and demanded
stringent action against the teacher concerned.
UNI GV 1555