The complainant is a post-graduate student of Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences in Shivamogga.
| Photo Credit: Sathish G.T.
Shivamogga
A post-graduate student of Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences in Shivamogga has filed a complaint against an associate professor, accusing him of sexually harassing her.
The student filed the complaint with Shivamogga Women Police Station in Shivamogga on June 20, accusing Dr. Ashwin Hebbar, associate professor of general surgery, of sexually harassing her during a dinner with other students at a hotel in the city a week before.
The police registered the case under Section 75(2) of the BNS, 2023, besides the SC&ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015. Before filing the police complaint, the student had complained to the administrative council of the college and the internal complaints committee of the institute.
Demand to arrest accused
The People’s Lawyers’ Guild of Shivamogga has demanded arrest of the accused.
K.P. Sripal of the guild, in a press conference in Shivamogga on June 25, said that the accused faced similar charges earlier in 2022. “The police should arrest him immediately, and the institute should suspend him,” he urged.
Students of the institute staged a protest wearing black ribbons on the college campus on June 25 demanding suspension of the accused.
Unauthorised absence
When The Hindu contacted Dr. T.D. Thimmappa, Medical Superintendent of the college, he said that the head of the institute could take disciplinary action against only officers of groups C and D, not the doctors. However, a report would be sent to the Medical Education Department for further action. The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Committee of the college was yet to submit its inquiry report, he added.
Ashwin Hebbar is said to have been absent from his duties in the institute without informing the higher authorities.
Published – June 25, 2025 04:33 pm IST
