A teacher from Pune’s prestigious Gokhale Institute has reportedly abused a student both verbally and physically. Despite the serious allegations against the teacher, identified as Prateek Chandane, both the Dean and Vice-Chancellor (VC) are shielding him, said Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), a legal organisation fighting for the rights of indigenous people.

“Disturbing reports from the prestigious Gokhale Institute, Pune, reveal a student subjected to verbal abuse and physical violence by a teacher, Prateek Chandane. Instead of protecting the student and ensuring justice, it’s alarming that Dean Jayanti Kajale and Vice-Chancellor Ajit Ranade chose to shield the perpetrator. We urge
@mieknathshinde @Dev_Fadnavis to intervene and punish the guilty for spoiling the academic atmosphere in the institute”, LRO said in a tweet seeking the intervention of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.

The Deccan Police Station registered a non-cognisable offence. The complaint lodged on 1 March notes that the offence occurred on 23 February when the complainant, Gokhale Institute student Krishnendu Tapankumar Goswami, was appearing for the MSc first-year examination. He says Chandane was the supervisor, and he constantly distracted Goswami by standing next to him. When the student told Chandane that he was unable to concentrate on his examination, Chandane abused and manhandled him. He even threatened Krishnendu with harm if the two met outside the examination room.

LRO alleged that neither Dean Jayanti Kajale nor Vice-Chancellor Ajit Ranade took action against the accused teacher and are instead sheltering him. The Maharashtra government is expected to take strict action against the accused and the institute.

(Featured Image Source: LRO)