Nirmala Devi of Devanga Arts College was arrested less than 24 hours after the matter became public.
Highlights
- Nirmala Devi of Devanga Arts College had claimed she knows the Governor
- She was arrested for making tacit requests for sexual favours to student
- Strict action will be taken if someone is found guilty: Governor Purohit
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has denied having any link with the
professor who was arrested today for allegedly making tacit requests for sexual favours to her students on behalf of officials of the Madurai Kamaraj University. Nirmala Devi, 46, of Devanga Arts College, had claimed she knows the Governor, who is the chancellor of the university.
"I do not know the lady... I am above politics. Strict action will be taken if someone is found guilty. We will get to know only after an inquiry," Governor Purohit told reporters this afternoon.
Nirmala Devi -- who promised financial and academic rewards to students in return for sex -- was arrested this morning, less than 24 hours after the matter became public. The math professor, who has been working at the prestigious college in Virudhnagar for a decade, has been charged under the IT Act. The case has been shifted to a special team of investigators.
The college, which was informed about the matter nearly a month ago by the students, approached the police yesterday only after an audio clip of the teacher's conversation with students was widely shared on social media. Till then, it was continuing its internal inquiries and the professor was suspended.
The Madurai Kamaraj University has withdrawn its five-member probe committee after Governor Purohit announced an investigation by a former bureaucrat yesterday. The professor has denied any wrongdoing.
In the audio clip that was circulated widely on WhatsApp and Facebook, she is heard promising students "good support financially and academically". The students were advised not to inform anyone, but the teacher said they were free to inform their parents if they wished. "If you tell, we can plan accordingly... we can open an account and deposit the money that comes in".
The state's Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar told reporters in Chennai that such "black sheep" cannot be allowed and assured that the government will take action against her.