The South Asian University is once again in the news for alleged high-handedness in dealing with students. After its crackdown on stipend protests, it now faces allegations of trying to hush up an alleged sexual assault on campus. 

The alleged assault took place on Sunday night. The student, in her complaint, alleged that she had received threatening emails and messages on WhatsApp and Telegram, warning that a photograph of hers that was morphed to appear nude would be circulated if she did not meet the accused persons near Gate 3 of the campus.

The first-year B.Tech student was subsequently asked to come to a deserted stretch near an under-construction convocation centre around 8 pm. She was approached by a security guard, who called three other men on the spot. They tried to take off her T-shirt and pants, and hit her on the head when she resisted. They tried to drag her to an empty room, bit her, and forced what they described as an “i-pill” down her throat. She alleged that one of them slapped her cheek. They all fled the spot when they heard the sound of a food cart, she said.

A student, who is also a friend of the survivor, called the PCR on Monday afternoon. An FIR was lodged at the Maidan Garhi police station – under BNS sections 70, 62, 123, 140(3), 115(2), 126(2), 3(5) – for alleged gangrape and abduction. The complaint mentioned a university guard and three unidentified persons. 

The medical examination was conducted later in the evening. 

While the university issued a statement condemning the “alleged act of sexual violence” and said it stands in solidarity with the complainant, students say the university’s action was too little, too late.

Even the survivor has made a series of allegations against university staff in her statement to the police. 

The complainant claimed the hostel staff discouraged her from calling the police or informing her family. She also alleged that a guard “physically covered” her phone while she tried to video call her parents. “The warden said to change my clothes and have a bath, everything will be fine,” read the complaint. “They said they will call the PRO and handle it internally.”

Students alleged crucial evidence may have been destroyed with the “bath”.

Further, at least five students Newslaundry spoke to, including one who was present at the hospital during the survivor’s medical examination, and another who claimed to have confronted the university’s administration over the episode, alleged the university staff also tried to pressure the survivor to approach the University Complaints Committee instead of going the police route.

These students also claimed the FIR and the medical examination were delayed. However, a report in Hindustan Times suggested that while a PCR call was made, police waited for a formal complaint to file a case. DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan had earlier told the paper that the student was being counselled and “till now, she has not given any formal statement”.

Amid accusations of a delay and mishandling of the matter, a wave of anger had swept across the campus by Monday evening. At least 300 students, shaken by the handling of the case, gathered in the administration block and issued a formal Memorandum of Demands to the university authorities.

“This is not an isolated incident,” the memorandum read. “There exists a pattern of negligence, inefficiency, and a culture of impunity that continues to put students at risk and erodes any trust in the current administrative framework.” 

The students’ memorandum demanded swift and transparent action – including immediate investigation, suspension of implicated staff, resignations over systemic failures, survivor support, campus safety reforms, student representation under Vishakha Guidelines, and a non-retaliation guarantee – warning that inaction would escalate their protest.

Audio clip

In an audio clip reviewed by Newslaundry, the hostel caretaker can be heard saying, “If someone is pulling her cloth, it cannot be torn like this. This is a small tear.” In the same clip, the caretaker claims the student had left the hostel in “perfect condition around 7 to 7.30 pm” and so “if she went there, it must have been because her friends or someone she knows had called”. “Why will a woman go alone unless someone she knows has called here?” 

The caretaker also claimed the survivor is mentally unsound because of familial issues and due to her difficult time studying in Kota.

Newslaundry’s phone calls to the caretaker remained unanswered.

Reached for comment, Medha Bisht, a member of the University Complaints Committee, said, “This is a very disgusting incident which has happened and this should not have happened.” Asked about the survivor and the steps taken by the university, Bisht said, “I think she was taken to the hospital yesterday. That’s all I know. I think the administration is also cooperating with the students.”

Bisht denied students’ allegations that the UCC lacked student representation. “It has had student representation since the committee was formed.”

Newslaundry reached out to professor Navnit Jha, dean; and Om Prakash Yadav, SAU public relations officer, for comment. This report will be updated if a response is received.

Small teams can do great things. All it takes is a subscription. Subscribe now and power Newslaundry’s work.