Girl, live-in relation with asst prof accuses him sexual assault

HYDERABAD: An assistant professor at English and foreign languages university (EFLU) had a live-in relationship with his student which ended bitterly.

According to the media report, Dr Ranjith Thankappan, who is an assistant professor with media department at ELFU and is already married, had a live-in relationship with his student.

The student filed a complaint with the Osmania University police station saying he had promised her to marry after his divorce with his first wife but later he changed his mind.

The Osmania University police has booked a case under Section 420 (cheating), 376 (charges of rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) under the Indian Penal Code.

She alleged that initially our friendship started with an online conversation on social media and we occasionally meet at university canteen. In our personal conversation, many times he mentioned about his divorce from his wife.
“When he proposed me, I was under the impression that he was genuine and honest,” the student said in her complaint.

Since June 2018 we started living like husband and wife and he exploited me sexually many times. I consented to him, believing that he was going to marry me as promised, she said.

On 12th January, he assaulted and threatened to throw her out of his house and on January 16 he threatened me saying I am staying at his house illegally and pressurizing him to marry, she added.

One of his colleagues Dr Parthasarathy was witness to all these events. “I feel I have been cheated and sexually exploited after false promises of marriage,” she said.

S. Rajashekhar Reddy, inspector of Osmania University confirmed the police had received the complaint. EFLU authorities are yet to take action against the absconding professor.

“No case has been filed so far and the girl is being counselled. The accused is absconding,” said an officer.