Madras HC grants bail to former Kalakshetra professor Sheejith Krishna, accused of sexual assault

Allegations against Sheejith reportedly include rape under false promises of marriage and other sexual offences.

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Sexual assault row in Kalakshetra

Established in 1936, the Kalakshetra promotes fine arts. In 1993, the Union government passed a Bill, recognising it as an institute of national importance. Kalakshetra is an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Culture.

The sexual assault allegations against Kalakshetra professors started in December 2022 when former Director Leela Samson wrote on social media about a teacher who had been molesting students. Even though she deleted the post in a few minutes, it wasn’t soon enough and students and alumni started sharing their lived experiences.

In a matter of weeks, protests rocked Kalakshetra with students demanding the dismissal of faculty members accused of sexual misconduct.

Talking in March 2023 to South First, a former Kalakshetra student recalled how the allegations weren’t new. “They were first made two years ago. A student, who was a relation of a senior official at the Centre, had called him out, besides complaining to the management,” she said. “She was verbally abused when she refused to heed the demands of the senior teacher,” the former student added.

On 3 April 2023, Chennai City Police arrested an assistant professor of Kalakshetra, Hari Padman, based on a complaint by a former student on the charges of sexual harassment.

Related: Kalakshetra Assistant Professor Hari Padman arrested over sexual harassment allegations

(Edited by Neena)