Chennai (Tamilnadu), May 25: A Chennai private school teacher was suspended after several allegations of sexual harassment of current and former students of the school surfaced. The incident was further exacerbated, when DMK women's team secretary and MP Kanimozhi took to Twitter to post a student’s sexual harassment complaint.

 

The accused, Rajagopalan worked as a commerce teacher at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan (PSBB) School in KK Nagar in Chennai. Current students and an alumnus of the school posted a sexual harassment complaint against him on Instagram. 

In an online class on the Corona pandemic, Rajagopalan was reported to be sexually harassing his  students by speaking in a double meaning which has sexual overtones in it. Also, he allegedly indulged in private chats with malicious intent on WhatsApp and through video calling with students. Students complained that he appeared before them on screen half-naked during online classes.

 

The student's complaint went viral on social media and the incident got highlighted when Kanimozhi posted it on Twitter. Ashok Nagar All Women Police Station is investigating this matter. On May 23, Jayalakshmi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Crime against Women and Children in Chennai visited PSBB School and made inquiries in the matter.



 Later the teacher Rajagopalan was brought to Thousand Light Women's Police Station and interrogated. Amid the controversy, the PSBB school administration said on May 24 suspended Rajagopalan. PSBB School principal Geetha Govindarajan said, “The school administration will not tolerate any action that affects the welfare of the students physically, mentally, or emotionally. Such allegations as reported on social media have not been brought to the attention of management in the past. We will resolve the issue by voluntarily and fairly investigating these allegations ourselves."

 

Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Magesh told reporters, “The district primary education officer has asked the school administration for an explanation. If there is truth in that, stern action will be taken,” he said. Meanwhile, Chennai Police has asked students and parents of students to come forward to lodge a complaint against Rajagopalan. 

Chennai city police informed that the details of the students who lodge such complaints will be kept confidential. Students can also contact Jayalakshmi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Crime against Women and Children in Chennai on 9444772222.