Chennai School Sexual Harassment Case: Harrowing allegations of sexual misconduct have come to light a Commerce of a popular school in Chennai.
The professor of Commerce named Rajagopalan has been accused of sending suggestive texts, walking into an online class in a towel, slut-shaming students and other serious accusations about his overall inappropriate conduct towards female students.
The case is now driving the massive debate on social media about educational institutions being allegedly careless about their staff's conduct towards the students. Several former students of the said school came forward to share their own equally worrisome experience at the school. They all asked for the school administration to take action against the accused teacher. More here.
Celebrities such as Chinmayi Sripada, Kripali Samdariya and others also took to Twitter to make people aware of the case in point. They strongly condemned the accused teacher's behaviour and the alleged inaction by the school authorities.
Chinmayi Sripada
Someone I know just called me and said he got to know this morning his daughter has faced abuse from Mr. Rajagopal of PSBB. Apparently everyone in the system knows.
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) May 24, 2021
But he isnt willing to file a complaint because he doesn’t want his daughter’s name dragged into this 🤷🏻♀️
Singer Chinmayi Sripada joined the Twitter movement started by the students of the school and offered legal help to the students who are willing to speak against the alleged systematic sexual harassment.
Earlier she claimed that YG Madhuvanti, who is being linked to the school, has nothing to do with it. However, she later corrected herself by revealing that Madhuvanti is actually a trustee of the Chennai school in question.
The statement from PSBB.
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) May 24, 2021
It now rests with the students to actually take this forward legally. The screenshots of the man walking into an (online) class in his towel is appalling.
BTW - YG Madhuvanti has nothing to do with PSBB KKN. Her family has their own school. pic.twitter.com/qH4Cc3kLv4
Kripali Samdariya
Model Samdariya who also happens to be an alumna of the Chennai school amplified the allegations of the students against the accused and is assisting them to share their experiences on a wider social media platform. She also claimed that the school chose to not take an action against the accused even after the students brought the issue in front of the administration.
The school however in its official statement undersigned by Principal Geetha Govindarajan has denied being in the know of the situation. The statement read, "these kind of allegations have not been brought to the attention of the management in the past."
The school in its statement also said that they are going to take suo moto cognisance of the allegations to " take all necessary steps to address the situation in a free, fair and transparent manner."
Lakshmi Priya Chandramouli
Actor Lakshmi Priya Chadramouli who was recently seen sharing the screen with Dhanush in Karnan made her fans and followers aware of the case with a trigger warning. In her tweet, she called the professor a "sexual harasser". Chandramouli claimed to have verified the details of the case with a student of the accused teacher.
She called the case "sick" and sought punishment for the accused.
TW: stories of sexual harassment. Rajagopalan, commerce teacher in #PSBB(KKN) is a sexual harasser. Posting this after I have personally verified this with a student from this man's class. Also posting this to amplify and ensure he gets the punishment he deserves. This is sick. https://t.co/ndJIKrOmN5
— Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli (@LakshmiPriyaaC) May 23, 2021
Archana Kalpathi
Director Archana Kalpathi and also an alumna of the Chennai school took to Twitter to amplify the cause of survivors who were allegedly harassed by accused teacher Rajagopalan. Kalpathi offered words of praise to the students who came forward with the allegations. She wrote, " Love and hugs to all the brave girls who have shared their stories."
Sexual harassment cannot be normalised It was heartbreaking to see stories about this commerce teacher in #PSBB As alumni we have to amplify so it reaches the right people to take severe action This is not Ok !Love and hugs to all the brave girls who have shared their stories ♥️
— Archana Kalpathi (@archanakalpathi) May 24, 2021
Politicians such as Kanimozhi and Dayanidhi Maran also joined in the Twitter uproar over the harrowing case. Kanimozhi promised to take the issue to concerned authorities and called for an inquiry over it. She wrote, "Inquiry should be conducted and action must be taken against those who are involved including school authorities who failed to act against the complaints from students."
I promise to take this to the concerned authorities.
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) May 24, 2021
சென்னை பி.எஸ்.பி.பி பள்ளியில் ஒரு ஆசிரியர் மாணவர்களை பாலியல் துன்புறுத்தல் செய்வதாக எழுந்துள்ள புகார் என்னை அதிர்ச்சிக்குள்ளாக்கியது. சம்பந்தப்பட்டவர்களை விசாரித்து குற்றம் செய்தவர் மீதும், (2/3)
Several social media users who studied at the Chennai school have started to open up about their own experiences. They added to a series of serious allegations against the school, the accused teacher Rajagopalan and other staff members.