Inspired by Jai Bhim movie, IIT Madras scholar takes up legal battle against co-scholar, others in sexual assault case
A 30-year-old research scholar in Tamil Nadu decided to pursue a legal battle against a co-scholar, seven others for sexually assaulting, abusing her, after drawing inspiration from the movie Jai Bhim.
Chennai March 28, 2022
The survivor, who underwent nearly four years of torture, decided to take up legal battle after drawing inspiration from movie Jai Bhim.
A 30-year-old student who was allegedly sexually abused by her fellow scholar and seven other students has taken up a legal battle for justice, after reportedly drawing inspiration from the movie Jai Bhim.
The film Jai Bhim was a talking point for depicting the systemic injustice and cruelties faced by marginalised communities in Tamil Nadu.
The student has mentioned in the FIR the heart-wrenching manner in which she was abused by her fellow scholar Kingshuk Debsharma and seven of his friends.
The student had joined IIT Madras on July 14, 2016 and got acquainted with Kingshuk. She felt comfortable with Kingshuk, as they spoke the same native language, which he took advantage of by sexually assaulting her.
The accused had caused hindrance to the survivor by not allowing her to freely use equipment that forced her to speak with him. In the FIR, the survivor mentioned that using this as a chance, he had called her to the lab on the pretext of resolving the issue. The accused then allegedly sexually abused her, took pictures of her and used them to blackmail her for a period between 2016 and 2020.
The survivor, after undergoing nearly four years of torture, had attempted suicide but was rescued by her friends. The student reportedly did get the full support from her family and had complained to the IIT Madras officials and an Internal Committee was constituted.
The findings of the committee against sexual harassment recorded that the survivor had undergone verbal abuse and was physically abused twice by Kingshuk.
ALSO READ | Suriya's hard-hitting tale about caste injustice and police brutality is a must-watch
The committee findings also reported that Kingshuk’s friends Malay Krishna, Subhadeep Bannerjee, Dr E Ravindran also harassed her. And as an interim recommendation stated that the above-mentioned students should not be permitted to enter the campus, until the survivor completes her thesis.
However, due to the pandemic, classes were conducted online but the accused were not barred from attending it along with the survivor, causing her more trauma.
In a strange turn of events, the survivor then sought the help of Suganthi, State General Secretary of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) who stated that the survivor and her friends had watched Jai Bhim movie and had attained hope that they still had a chance to get justice.
A complaint was registered with Mylapore All Women Police Station on March 29 2021 but the FIR had only registered a complaint under sections 354, 354B, 354C and 506 (1) and omitted rape charges as she didn’t explicitly mention the word rape. Furthermore, no charges under Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST were filed.
"Justice Chandru informed us and also called a senior police official. The survivor then spoke to us and we were shocked to know that no rape charges or POA against SC/ST were filed in the FIR. We were even shocked that the accused had attended online classes along with the survivor even after the Internal Committee had given interim recommendations the other way", stated Suganthi.
After AIDWA took the case, these factors were highlighted and Kingshuk was arrested by Tamil Nadu Police Special Team and is in Diamond Harbour Police station in West Bengal, awaiting a transit warrant.
The survivor, who underwent nearly four years of torture, decided to take up legal battle after drawing inspiration from movie Jai Bhim.
A 30-year-old student who was allegedly sexually abused by her fellow scholar and seven other students has taken up a legal battle for justice, after reportedly drawing inspiration from the movie Jai Bhim.
The film Jai Bhim was a talking point for depicting the systemic injustice and cruelties faced by marginalised communities in Tamil Nadu.
The student has mentioned in the FIR the heart-wrenching manner in which she was abused by her fellow scholar Kingshuk Debsharma and seven of his friends.
The student had joined IIT Madras on July 14, 2016 and got acquainted with Kingshuk. She felt comfortable with Kingshuk, as they spoke the same native language, which he took advantage of by sexually assaulting her.
The accused had caused hindrance to the survivor by not allowing her to freely use equipment that forced her to speak with him. In the FIR, the survivor mentioned that using this as a chance, he had called her to the lab on the pretext of resolving the issue. The accused then allegedly sexually abused her, took pictures of her and used them to blackmail her for a period between 2016 and 2020.
The survivor, after undergoing nearly four years of torture, had attempted suicide but was rescued by her friends. The student reportedly did get the full support from her family and had complained to the IIT Madras officials and an Internal Committee was constituted.
The findings of the committee against sexual harassment recorded that the survivor had undergone verbal abuse and was physically abused twice by Kingshuk.
ALSO READ | Suriya's hard-hitting tale about caste injustice and police brutality is a must-watch
The committee findings also reported that Kingshuk’s friends Malay Krishna, Subhadeep Bannerjee, Dr E Ravindran also harassed her. And as an interim recommendation stated that the above-mentioned students should not be permitted to enter the campus, until the survivor completes her thesis.
However, due to the pandemic, classes were conducted online but the accused were not barred from attending it along with the survivor, causing her more trauma.
In a strange turn of events, the survivor then sought the help of Suganthi, State General Secretary of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) who stated that the survivor and her friends had watched Jai Bhim movie and had attained hope that they still had a chance to get justice.
A complaint was registered with Mylapore All Women Police Station on March 29 2021 but the FIR had only registered a complaint under sections 354, 354B, 354C and 506 (1) and omitted rape charges as she didn’t explicitly mention the word rape. Furthermore, no charges under Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST were filed.
"Justice Chandru informed us and also called a senior police official. The survivor then spoke to us and we were shocked to know that no rape charges or POA against SC/ST were filed in the FIR. We were even shocked that the accused had attended online classes along with the survivor even after the Internal Committee had given interim recommendations the other way", stated Suganthi.
After AIDWA took the case, these factors were highlighted and Kingshuk was arrested by Tamil Nadu Police Special Team and is in Diamond Harbour Police station in West Bengal, awaiting a transit warrant.
