SAU assault case: Girls’ hostel assistant suspended, warden relieved

Days after a female student alleged sexual assault on the South Asian University (SAU) campus, the committee probing the case on Thursday suspended Anupama Arora, Assistant II (Girl’s Hostel), till the submission of the inquiry report and also relieved warden Dr Rinkoo Devi Gupta from her responsibility. However, no arrests have been made so far in this regard.

“Consequent to the committee’s discussion, Anupma Arora, Assistant II (Girls’ Hostel) (Outsourced) is suspended till the submission of the enquiry report. This is issued with the approval of the competent authority,” read an official letter.

The committee also relieved Rinkoo Devi Gupta, warden of girls’ hostel, from her responsibility, the letter further stated. It is noteworthy to mention the victim has alleged Arora of suppressing the issue. In the FIR, she alleged, “My friend insisted on Anupama ma’am, hostel in-charge, to call the police. But she told me to change clothes and take a bathe, adding that things would be alright.”

This development comes after students staged a protest outside the administrative block, demanding the suspension of the warden and the assistant over their alleged delayed action in a sexual assault case.

The university also appointed another assistant warden in place of Arora. “In the meantime, Kajori Bhatnagar, Assistant Warden, will take over the charge of warden and discharge the responsibilities associated with the post until further orders,” read another letter.

So far, no arrests have been made in the case. The police on Wednesday quizzed over 100 persons, including 67 guards, and also scanned CCTV cameras on the university campus.

Earlier in the day, a Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) delegation had submitted a memorandum to Prof KK Aggarwal, president of South Asian University (SAU), demanding swift and stringent action against those involved in the alleged sexual assault of the student.

The delegation presented a four-point charter of demands, including the formation of an impartial and transparent inquiry committee, reconstitution of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), installation of CCTV cameras across the campus and deployment of security vans to ensure the safety of female students.

The Delhi Police registered an FIR late on Monday night and launched a probe. As per initial reports, four men allegedly attempted to sexually assault a student on the SAU campus in Delhi.

NSUI demands HM Shah’s intervention

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has demanded immediate intervention from Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the sexual assault case at South Asian University (SAU). The NSUI has strongly condemned the incident, criticising both the Delhi Police and the SAU administration for failing to identify or arrest the perpetrators even after four days.

The organisation alleged that the administration delayed the FIR and tried to withhold evidence, while also discouraging students from approaching the police. It urged the Home Minister to deploy a special investigation team to ensure swift and transparent action.

NSUI National President Varun Choudhary said, “This assault represents a failure of the university, the Delhi Police and the Union Government. SAU falls under the External Affairs Ministry, yet the administration attempted to bury the case. We demand immediate arrests, accountability for complicit officials, and safer campuses for all students."

Friend had access to email used for sending lewd texts: Probe

Investigations in the alleged sexual assault of a student at South Asian University (SAU) have revealed that the email ID used to send obscene and threatening messages to the victim was also accessed by one of her friends, officials said on Thursday.

She had reported receiving sexually explicit and threatening messages from a person identifying himself as “Aryan Yash” through email and social media in the days before the incident.

Police sources said the technical analysis of the email account revealed it had been accessed from multiple devices.

One of those devices, investigators found, was accessible to one of the victim’s friends. “The finding has complicated the investigation. We are now trying to trace and question the friend who had access to the same email account,” an officer familiar with the probe said.

Meanwhile, the police said CCTV footage from the university campus has so far not shown any suspicious movement or activity linked to the incident.