Professor in Kolhapur sent on forced leave for saying ‘rapists can be from any religion’
Kolhapur: In a shocking incident from the Kolhapur Institute of Technology’s College of Engineering, a professor was forced to go on leave for stating that rapists can be from any religion during a group discussion in class, reported Newslaundry.
Physics professor Tejaswini Desai agreed to engage in a discussion on religious discrimination, as requested by the first-year students. Some of the students accused Muslims of being rapists and getting away with their crimes while some others stated that Hindus did not engage in riots and the Babri Masjid was demolished based on the orders of the Supreme Court. They further added that Muslims are not tolerant and create obstacles during Hindu celebrations.
The 52-year-old teacher was concerned about the divisive atmosphere and said that rape is not limited to any particular religion and caste. She added that rape comes under the category of heinous crimes.
A few students recorded video clips of Desai allegedly stating “Aurangzeb was good” and “Patil and Deshmukh were rapists”.
The professor, however, told Newslaundry that the video was edited and taken out of context. She asserted that, although the college management has supported her, they have asked her to issue an apology which she has denied after discussing with her family. “I haven’t said anything wrong. Everybody knows a criminal can be from any religion or caste,” she expressed.
After she informed the director of the institution of her decision, she was allegedly sent on forced leave for two weeks, as a disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, Desai registered a police complaint on June 17, demanding action against those who tried to create rift in the society by spreading misinformation through the edited video.
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'Contract killing' plot busted in Thane; victim's brother among four held
Thane (PTI): The Thane police have uncovered a "contract killing" plot and arrested four persons, including the victim's younger brother, who allegedly hired the assailants and lodged the complaint to mislead investigators and hide his role in the murder, officials said on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Paresh Tolaram Patil (40), was hacked to death on May 12 over a property dispute, and his brother allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh to the contract killers, an official said.
The same day, Naresh Tolaram Patil (37), an auto-rickshaw driver residing in the Bhiwandi area of Maharashtra's Thane district, lodged a police complaint alleging that his elder brother Paresh had been murdered by unidentified persons.
According to Naresh, his brother was riding his motorcycle to work at Vasai in neighbouring Palghar district when the unidentified assailants intercepted him and assaulted him with sharp weapons, in-charge Superintendent of Police Anmol Mittal said.
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Following the complaint, the Ganeshpuri police registered a case of murder on May 13.
The investigation teams examined several CCTV recordings along the suspected escape routes and used advanced technical surveillance.
The police then traced the registration plate of a vehicle allegedly used by the assailants, leading to the arrest of three alleged contract killers -- Rakesh Bhagwan Patil (37), Premjit Madhukar Gharat (38), and Daksh Bhanukant Bhoir (24) -- from Palghar, the official said.
"During intense interrogation, the three persons confessed to their involvement in the killing. They revealed that the plot was masterminded by the victim's brother, Naresh Patil, who had lodged the initial police complaint to misguide the law enforcement agencies," he said.
According to the official, Naresh Patil confessed to hatching the conspiracy due to an ongoing property dispute with his elder brother and that he had offered Rs 10 lakh to the three accused to eliminate Paresh.
Naresh Patil has also been arrested, and a further probe is underway into the case, they added.
