AGRA: Fighting for justice in a sexual harassment case against her guide for the past three years, the 31-year-old Iranian research scholar at Aligarh Muslim University ( AMU ) said foreign students should not come here to study as “the atmosphere is not conducive”.

Charges against the accused professor, Bilal Mustafa Khan , are yet to be framed by the lower court despite an Allahabad high court order in August last year directing completion of the trial within three months. The scholar, however, said she will not leave India until she gets justice.

The doctoral student had filed an FIR on May 9, 2014 at the civil lines police station here against her supervisor alleging mental and sexual harassment. According to her complaint, Khan had sent her indecent messages on WhatsApp and troubled her with questions about her personal life. The teacher in question is with the university’s business administration department.

In March 2015, he was not only let off by the varsity authorities but also promoted as an associate professor. In an application filed by her counsel Gopal Krishna Johari in August last year, the scholar had alleged that since the filing of the chargesheet in June 2015, the accused had sought numerous exemptions and adjournments, which were granted “in a mechanical way”. The high court had then directed the chief judicial magistrate (CJM), Aligarh, to ensure a completion of the trail in three months.

The scholar is forced to stay back in India even after the completion of her studies due to the pendency of the case, as she is the only witness in it. Gritty and strong-willed, the woman now says she will pursue the case to its completion since her absence can lead to acquittal of the suspect. “I am determined to get justice but I have had a harrowing time here. I appeal to all my fellow students from Iran and other foreign countries not to come to AMU,” she said.

Speaking to TOI, she revealed how Khan would summon her to his office for no substantial reason and tried to make “unwelcome advances and explicit sexual overtures”. He also allegedly stalked her on social media sites. She explained how Khan was exonerated by the varsity’s in-house committee even as the then vice chancellor Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah had directed the accused to tender a written apology to her. But the professor never submitted an apology, informed the scholar.

Interestingly, the victim was asked by AMU authorities on June 20 to vacate the hostel within three days on completion of her PhD, before the local police intervened on her behalf. A stay extension, till July 31, was then given though the victim said she does not want to go back to the hostel.

Meanwhile, AMU vice chancellor Tariq Mansoor said he was not aware about the case pending in the Aligarh court and that orders to vacate hostels was issued to all students in a routine manner.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Aligarh, Rajesh Pandey, said they provided her security after she approached him and apprehended trouble from the suspect. “We are helping her in whatever way we can,” Pandey said.

Her lawyer Johari said the CJM court has dismissed the second discharge application submitted by the accused on Wednesday and the case is listed for framing charges on July 3.

