Anna University professor arrested for 'sexual harassment, stalking'
Chennai (PTI): A professor of the state-run Anna University here was arrested on Friday evening following allegations of sexual harassment and stalking, police said.
A case was registered under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998, and Section 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for stalking, said a senior police official.
The professor has been identified as Gnanavel Babu, according to police.
"We arrested him in Tirunelveli and he is being brought to Chennai for interrogation," the officer said.
The legal action comes amid intense student protests and a subsequent suspension order by the university administration.
According to police sources, the FIR was registered following a complaint by a woman student who alleged that the professor had been subjecting her to sexual harassment for nearly two years.
The complainant further stated that several other female students had also been victimised and requested a confidential inquiry within her department to ensure the safety of all students.
The university campus witnessed significant unrest as students hit the streets, alleging that despite complaining twice previously, no concrete action was taken by the authorities. The protesters demanded the immediate removal of the faculty member and a complete overhaul of the campus safety grievance mechanism.
Following the registration of the police case and the escalating protests, the Anna University management issued an official order placing the professor under immediate suspension pending a full internal and police inquiry.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai.
Expressing "deep shock" on X (formerly Twitter), Annamalai sought to know why such incidents continue to recur at a premier institution like Anna University.
He further questioned the functionality of the university’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) committee, noting that the harassment allegedly persisted for two years.
He also called upon the state Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhian, to provide answers regarding the safety measures implemented since similar incidents were reported last year.
Annamalai has also urged the Tamil Nadu Police to conduct a "secretive and sensitive" investigation involving all female students in the accused professor's department to encourage more victims to come forward without fear of academic backlash.
Police said a thorough probe is underway.
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Sameer Ahmed elected President of SKMWA Muscat for 2026–2027
Muscat: Sameer Ahmed, a native of Udupi and currently employed in a private company in Muscat, has been elected President of the South Kanara Muslim Welfare Association (SKMWA), Muscat, for the 2026–2027 term.
The election was conducted during the association’s Annual General Body Meeting held at Al Reef Hotel, Muscat, in the presence of chief guests Adil Shaikh, Monabba, Shareef, and Sahebzada Mehmood.
The newly elected office bearers include Vice Presidents Mohd Arif (Udupi) and Niyaz Mohammed (Mangalore), General Secretary Jaseem Basha (Kundapura), Joint Secretaries Rizwan Ali (Udupi) and Zaheer Hussain (Moodbidri), Treasurer Tajuddin Sheikh (Tonse), Assistant Treasurer Irfan Ahmed (Udyavara), Finance Secretary Mohammed Asif Gafur (Karkala), Assistant Finance Secretary Mohammed Akif Gafoor (Karkala), and Auditor Ashraf Ali (Kaup).
The Core Committee includes Event Coordinators Ansar Katipalla and Adil Moodbidri, and Sports Coordinators Ashpak Basrur and Muneer Ahmed (Sastan).
The programme commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Zaid Asif. The Annual Activity Report for 2025 was presented by Sameer Ahmed, while the financial report was delivered by Mohammed Asif Gafoor and verified by Auditor Ashraf Ali.
Former president Azim was felicitated by Syed Mohiddin Saheb during the event.
The meeting concluded with an address by the newly elected president, followed by a vote of thanks proposed by General Secretary Jaseem Basha. The programme was coordinated by Syed Mohiddin Saheb (Sastan) and Ansar Katipalla.
