The doctor further alleged that even after providing the details, the Internal Complaint Committee did not take any action.
JIPMER.
JIPMER, a renowned medical institution in Puducherry, is currently embroiled in controversy. A former resident doctor at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) has alleged that a professor of the medical institution had sent an email asking for sexual favours, which she received during the time of her residency.
The doctor, Dr Rosha Sandesh, further alleged that even after providing the details to the Internal Complaint Committee, they did not take any action.
In a post shared on X, the doctor said that she received the email from a professor from the Department of Pharmacology in September 2023 and even after complaining to the police, the complaint still remains as “pending”.
In a detailed statement recalling the incident, she wrote, “I, Dr Rosha Sandesh, just finished my residency in the Department of Pharmacology, JIPMER. On 30th of September 2023, I, along with another resident doctor, found an obscene e-mail in her official mail ID from a mail ID belonging to a prominent faculty member (X), Department of Pharmacology, JIPMER. The mail asked for sexual favours in return for academic benefits.”
Dr Rosha said that the incident unfolded during the wee hours of 29 September 2023, when an email was received at 2:04 am. She approached a female faculty member the following day, who took the matter to a senior faculty member.
“I received the email at 2:04 am on 29.09.2023, around 2 minutes earlier than another resident. She got the email at 2:06 am,” she said.
I have attached a detailed account of the incident above and urge you to take necessary action to find the culprit and help prevent such incidents from happening anymore to resident doctors, let alone any woman. pic.twitter.com/5JFz4nXhS8
— Dr Rosha Sandesh (@RoshaSandesh) January 9, 2024
Initially considering the email as potential spam, the senior faculty member (R) cautioned Dr Rosha against disclosing it to her mother. He demonstrated tracking the sender’s IP address, discovering a fake email page linked to an untraceable IP, suggesting potential impersonation of the professor in question. R further advised against immediate action, proposing confronting the professor.
“When R asked us what he thought about this issue, Dr X only said a single sentence, ‘I didn’t send it’. He did not defend himself any further,” she said.
Dr Rosha added. “Furthermore, after we had left, X has also told R that I have sent this mail in his name to get back at him for scolding me. The fact that he immediately jumped to put the blame on me despite me giving him the benefit of the doubt seemed very suspicious.”
“My junior and I returned to my home and lodged a cybercrime complaint individually that night. Since R sir also asked us to keep the interest of the department at heart, we felt that a cybercrime complaint, rather than a police complaint, would be the best to handle this situation,” she said.
When Dr Rosha was taken to the Director of JIPMER, Dr Rakesh Agarwal, he brushed aside the severity of the incident. “He said ‘this is not a big thing’. Forget about this. Get some psychiatric help and do your work he said. He also said that whoever sent the mail wanted to tarnish X’s name that’s why they sent it. The director seemed too strongly opinionated that X could not have done this. He did not even receive our complaint letter,” Dr Rosha wrote in her statement.
Following this, she drew clues from the suspicious email and subsequent behaviours. She said that the email contained specific details known only to a few individuals, raising concerns about Dr X.
She further alleged that despite past harassment rumours, she initially remained neutral, giving Dr X the benefit of the doubt. She said that official avenues, including the Internal Complaints Committee and cybercrime complaint, offered limited support, leading to distress and biased handling.
“Certain behaviours could indicate involvement. The ICC finally investigated due to my discomfort around a specific person, yet the report solely relies on my complaint. The inquiry details, including testimonies and responses, remain undisclosed, making the report seem biased. The ICC Chairperson exhibited clear bias, instantly discrediting the person involved without substantial evidence. My complaint was against a specific individual based on the mail’s sender ID, originating from an official but personal email known to many in the department,” Dr Rosha told South First.
She also said that the email contained internal matters, confirming its origin within the department.
Responding to the allegation on X, JIPMER said that she (Dr Rosha) filed a complaint with the Cyber Cell of Puducherry Police, which is also being investigated by them separately.
It added, “JIPMER reaffirms its commitment to ensuring a safe and conducive working environment for all its employees and students, including women.”
She filed a complaint with Cyber Cell of Puducherry Police also, which is being investigated by them separately.
JIPMER reaffirms its commitment to ensuring a safe and conducive working environment for all its employees and students, including women.
— JIPMER (@OfficialJipmer) January 10, 2024
Meanwhile, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, had replied to Dr Rosha X post, expressing shock regarding the incident. “Forwarded for further enquiry and follow up,” she added.
Shoked ….forwarded for further enquiry and follow up
— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisaiGuv) January 10, 2024
“While the Lieutenant Governor acknowledged the issue, its resolution remains uncertain. Despite personal improvements, the lack of clarity on the investigation’s progress adds to the distress,” said Dr Rosha.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident were tough as it occurred before and after my exams. Presently, while I’m doing well, the unresolved situation still causes distress. The administration hasn’t reached out after my tweet, adding to my concerns. Though I’m better than before, uncertainty persists,” she added.
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