Former Delhi University employee who accused college principal of sexual harassment dies of burns

New Delhi: A former employee of Delhi University, who had alleged sexual harassment by a college principal, died in the hospital on Monday.

Pavitra Bharadwaj, 40, had set herself on fire outside the state government headquarters a week ago. She has left behind a suicide note, saying she was sexually harassed by the principal of BR Ambedkar College.

Since 2010, Pavitra had repeatedly complained of harassment by the principal, first to the Delhi Police, and then the university, but she was dismissed in 2012 after an internal panel of the college backed the principal, GK Arora, who has rubbished Pavitra's charges.

The staff of Ambedkar College, however were divided on the principal's innocence. One staffer said, "It's only after her complaint against the principal that she was put up for an inquiry by a select committee by him. He got Pavitra dismissed over absolutely baseless charges"

Another staff member defended the principal saying, "The character and reputation of the principal are remarkable. Allegations of sexual harassment are baseless"

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The Delhi police say they questioned the principal, but no formal FIR was filed due to lack of evidence, sources said.

The university's panel, who Pavitra had also approached, gave the principal a clean chit. She has even approached the National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Women, but received no help.

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Her husband who is a head constable in the Delhi police said he was hugely disappointed. "She had been harassed for over three years, even the police did not take our complaint seriously. Now we just want justice," Dharmendra Bhardwaj told NDTV.

The Delhi police has filed a case of suicide, but despite the family's claim, they say there is not enough corroborative evidence to charge the principal for abetment

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