GTU sports officer accused of harassment, terminated after complaints

A serious incident involving alleged sexual harassment by a faculty member has sullied the Gujarat Technological University (GTU).

A complaint was filed with the university’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) accusing a GTU sports officer of sexually harassing a female student from an affiliated college. Separately, following a complaint by a college trustee regarding inappropriate and indecent behaviour towards students, the university has terminated the services of the said officer.

According to discussions within GTU and information received, the university had recently organised a Personality Development Camp under its Youth Festival at another government university. Students from various colleges had participated in the camp. 

During the event, it is alleged that the GTU sports officer forced students to perform strange and objectionable acts. Videos related to the incident were reportedly recorded.

Following this, a trustee of the college to which the affected students belong submitted a formal complaint to GTU, prompting the university to initiate an internal inquiry. 

Meanwhile, a female student from an affiliated college recently filed a complaint with the ICC, alleging sexual harassment by GTU sports officer Akash Gohil. 

Subsequently, the committee began its investigation and recorded statements from the complainant, other students, and the accused officer. The inquiry is currently under way.

The complainant has also reportedly filed a police complaint against the sports officer. However, no official confirmation has been received in this regard so far.

According to a senior GTU official, a complaint was received from the trustee of an affiliated pharmacy college stating that during a camp held at Somnath University, sports officer Akash Gohil allegedly made students wear women’s clothes and forced them to dance. Videos of the incident were also submitted to the university as evidence.

It has been alleged that efforts were also made to suppress the issue, following which leaders and student groups staged a protest at the university demanding strict action.