JNU Rape Case: Accused May Apply for Anticipatory Bail

With student elections round the corner, student organisations are united against former AISA president Anmol Ratan

WrittenBy:NL Team
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Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is back in the news. Student Anmol Ratan has been accused of raping a fellow student.  According to an India Today report, Ratan is likely to apply for an anticipatory bail at Patiala House court. The report also mentions that the Delhi Police may oppose the plea.

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On August 21, 2016, a complaint was lodged in the Vasant Kunj (North) Police Station by a first year PhD student of Jawaharlal Nehru University, against 29-year-old Ratan, who is also a PhD student and a member of the student communist party, All India Students’ Association (AISA). In the past, Ratan has also been the state president of the party.

The 28-year-old has said in her formal complaint that in June, she had posted a status asking if anybody had a copy of the Marathi film Sairat. Anmol sent her a personal message much later, in response to her query, telling her he had a copy of the film. She says Anmol picked her up from her hostel on Saturday and took her to Brahmaputra Boys’ hostel, where he offered her some alcohol and then raped her. She has also alleged that Anmol did not allow her to leave the hostel and threatened her. The complainant has also undergone a medical test. The court will hear the case on August 27.

As soon as the incident came to light, protests broke out on campus. With JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections round the corner (they’ll be held in September), there’s anxiety about the issue getting politicised. Already, several student members of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have demanded Ratan’s rustication from the university. Unsurprisingly, AISA has done its best to distance itself from Ratan.

Once the complaint was registered, AISA expelled Ratan from primary membership of the party and the statement by Ashutosh Kumar, Delhi State Secretary of AISA, states that they “stand by the complainant in her fight for justice.” In a statement issued by JNU, the administration has appealed to the students, staff and teachers that they remain “vigilant against such incidents”.

Shehla Rashid, Vice President of JNUSU and a member of AISA, told Newslaundry that the party needs to introspect and have a formal discussion among its members to prevent such incidents in the future. “We have given a formal statement to the Vice Chancellor of the University,” she said. “A formal action should be taken and Anmol should be arrested.” She also added that there is a need to strengthen and empower GSCASH (Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment), which is a committee comprising of representatives from JNU’s students, staff and administration.

Cases of sexual harassment and even rape are subjects that remain curiously taboo, particularly when they involve student leaders, as it does in this incident. More often than not, she must file a complaint against someone who wields more power and influence than her, which adds yet another layer to the social stigma associated with being a victim. Most educational institutions in India are barely equipped to deal with such complaints, as was obvious when a student filed a case of sexual harassment against St Stephen College’s bursar, Satish Kumar. The complainant said there was no committee for sexual harassment and that the principal of the college had done his best to shield the bursar.

St Stephen’s College reacted by trying to discredit the student. It’s heartening to see both JNU and AISA have reacted more maturely and responsibly (even if it is because elections are looming). However, with the complainant yet to appear before a magistrate and rumours flying around about Ratan, it’s difficult to predict whether this will force us to begin a much-needed discussion on how to tackle the problem sexual violence in educational institutions or if it will become yet another abandoned conversation.

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