The lackadaisical behaviour of the Tamil Nadu government and the local administration in Trichy stands exposed with the suicide of a female college student. The woman committed suicide following repeated sexual abuse by a Christian professor in the college. Other students have revealed that, he was doing this with multiple women and that the administration turned mum when they complained against him. Due to the inaction by the administration, the victim woman had to attempt suicide.
Students claim that despite multiple women falling victim to similar incidents, the college administration, which is affiliated with the church, has shown a lack of attention and action. It is alleged that the professor is receiving support from a political party to suppress the incident and evade punishment.
The accused, Leo Standly, an Assistant Professor in the Chemistry department at St. Joseph’s College in Trichy, was suspended after the victim, an undergraduate student in the same department, attempted suicide. The professor reportedly manipulated the victim by offering help, thereby gaining her trust. It is reported that the victim’s family was experiencing personal difficulties, which the professor exploited to trap her.
As per an investigative report by a magazine, Tamilaga Arasiyal, the professor raped the victim and threatened to outrage her modesty by revealing details. He did not stop here as he also exploited her mother as well. As per the magazine report, he used to say things like, “You look like a heroine, dear. I like you very much. I love you de chellam. Call me when your grandma is away”,
He said, “It looks like you have become emboldened. I have your papers with me. I know how to suppress it (boldness)”.
He used to threaten the victim, who lived with her grandmother as her parents were separated. Taking advantage of this, he used it to manipulate her.
He also went after her mother, promising her work and financial support. He once violently grabbed the mother’s hands for a handshake when they ran into each other in the college, despite the fact that she had folded them in response.
The victim’s mother told the magazine, “He told me, I have arranged for a job for you. You’ll definitely get it. Give me your hand, and grabbed my hands despite my resistance and did’t drop it for 5 minutes. I understood that he acted that way, knowing that I’m separated from my husband.”
He made sexual innuendos, saying, “I’ll come to your house. Do you need money? I’ll give it to you. How many lakhs do you need? I am alone. You get it right?”.
According to the mother, she was forced to put up with it because of the demands of her family and the future of her daughter. He frequently discussed women’s rights and referred to female pupils as his sisters, the victim has alleged. To establish himself as a social activist, he organised students to protest the Manipur problem.
The victim eventually lost patience with the abuse and reported it to the college administration. The college administration chose to ignore it, however, because it was governed by Catholic priests. According to reports, the victim who felt wronged, attempted suicide and was taken to the hospital. According to Tamil media sources, she was forced to have an abortion as a result of ongoing sexual abuse. Only then, it is claimed, did the college administration pay notice to the allegation, and numerous victims began to speak up.
Through Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, a ‘Dalit’ political party and DMK partner, the sexual predator professor allegedly put pressure on the victim and the college administration in order to avoid punishment. Additionally, he persuaded his wife to register complaints under the SC ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, alleging that he was the victim of caste-based discrimination. The professor was declared guilty by the Vishaka committee after looking into the victim and her mother. He was then placed on administrative leave for six months.
St.Joseph’s College is run by the Jesuit priests of the Society of Jesus. Professor Standly proudly mentions in his resume that “He takes part in the mission of the Jesuits in forming the young students as men and women for others by having Ignatian value in his teaching through Ignatian pedagogies.”
According to media sources, college staff members disclosed that the professor is a serial offender who was previously issued a memo as a result of another complaint. He allegedly used the political influence he enjoys through VCK to return to St. Joseph’s College despite having been moved to another institution.
