St. Stephen's College has filed a case against Devansh Mehta for vandalism and trespass in a chemistry lab in the college . Devansh Mehta had clashed with Principal Valson Thampu over the publication of a college e-zine in April this year.

In its complaint, the college has alleged that Mehta alongwith a researcher barged into the chemistry lab and damaged the equipments there. Interestingly, the researcher mentioned in the complaint is the same woman who has accused a college professor of molestation .

The woman researcher has alleged that she was denied payment of her stipend and access to the laboratory, a charge denied by the principal as "constructed controversy".

The victim has also alleged that when she forcefully tried to enter the laboratory where she was conducting her research, she was locked by an attendant inside following which she had to call the police.



DUTA President Nandita Narain defends Devansh

"There is no vandalism. The woman research scholar (complainant of sexual harassment) had gone to the lab to inspect her research compounds. She was accompanied by Devansh Mehta. While they were there they were locked in by another research student of Satish Kumar. They called 100, and the authorities also called 100 calling it a case of "trespass". The SHO came and they all went to the Principal's office, locking the lab behind them."

"Mr Samuel Shekhar, who is the Mess Supervisor and is working as AO, was with them. I received a call from Devansh's lawyer so I went to the Principal's office where we all waited for the lawyer to come to draft a letter on her behalf asking the authorities for safe access to the lab. More than one hour later, just when the lawyer arrived, another student of Satish Kumar rang up Mr Samuel saying that some equipment in the lab costing 5 lakhs had been damaged! We all went to the lab. Police questioned the researcher who had made the complaint and asked him how come he had said nothing about the "vandalism" for more than an hour while the police was there. Phone recordings are there that show that no such thing happened."

"The whole episode shows that the woman researcher, who has a right to go and inspect her samples, is being further harassed and intimidated at the behest of Satish Kumar and college administration. Devansh Mehta, who has to travel to Columbia later this month, is also being vindictively targeted for supporting the woman research student."