Police question 15 Sharda University faculty members in probe into 21-year-old student's suicide

Time of India

7 days ago

Noida: Police have recorded statements of 15 faculty members at Sharda University in their investigation into circumstances in which a 21-year-old second-year student died by suicide on July 18.
In her note, Jyoti Jhangra accused two faculty members of mental harassment. Both have since been arrested and are in judicial custody.
The faculty members who police have taken statements from include the head of the department of the School of Dental Sciences and the dean, both of whom are named in the FIR filed at Knowledge Park police station on the basis of a complaint from Jyoti's father. Police are also waiting for the internal report of the university.
That inquiry is being carried out by Sharda's internal complaints committee.
Jyoti, a resident of Gurgaon, was found dead in her hostel room around 9pm last Friday. "If I die, the teachers of PCP and Dental Material are to blame. Mahinder Sir and Shairy Maam are responsible for my death. I want them to go behind bars. They mentally harassed me. They humiliated me. I was in stress because of them for a long time. I want them to face the same thing.
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I am sorry. I can't live like this anymore. I can't," she wrote in the note.
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The two teachers she named – assistant professor Shayri Vashisht and associate professor Mahinder Singh Chauhan – were arrested. The four other faculty members named are dean M Siddharth, professor Anurag Hasti, assistant professor Surabhi Duggal and HOD Ashish Chaudhary. Besides section 108 (abetment of suicide), police have invoked charges under BNS sections 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 351(2) (criminal intimidation).
"We have questioned faculty members on their experience of teaching her, how she was in class, and what they knew about her personal life. We will also speak to her classmates and those who lived in neighbouring rooms in the hostel," a senior police officer told TOI on Tuesday. "We are also questioning wardens, ambulance workers and university management staff," the officer added.
Since the department has been sealed for the investigation, students had been asked to go home.
The university's public relations director Ajit Kumar said regular activities started on the campus from Tuesday. But the bachelor of dental studies department will be opened after police and the ICC complete their investigation. The ICC report is expected by Thursday. Jyoti's diary, laptop, mobile phone and other belongings in her hostel room have been sealed according to protocols.
The ICC, according to sources, has completed 80% of its inquiry and had taken statements from 35 individuals by Tuesday afternoon, including faculty members, students, wardens and other staff.
"By Wednesday, the information collection process will be completed and the committee will proceed with compilation. Though the deadline to submit the report is Friday, the committee will fast-track the process and try to submit it by Thursday," an official said.
A spokesperson for the university said the committee is focusing on two aspects. "First, how the academic involvement of the student was, her academic records, and attendance.
Second, the hostel administration's role, security and hostel attendance. We will also look into whether she shared anything with her friends regarding mental health issues. CCTV footage will be thoroughly checked."
Earlier, one of Jyoti's closest friends had told TOI that both the faculty members arrested had accused her of forging their signatures on her project files. While one of them had allegedly pulled her up before the entire class on July 10, the other, according to the friend, had humiliated Jyoti in the staff room when she had gone asking for his signature on July 18. Another faculty member who was present there had allegedly done the same.
After this, Jyoti had a meltdown. Hours later, she was found dead.