London: The president of Oxford University's leading students' group has been cleared of rape charges as police did not find sufficient evidence to prosecute him.
Oxford Union president Ben Sullivan was arrested for rape and attempted rape of two under-graduates on May 7 and was released on bail until Wednesday.
"No further action was taken against the 21-year-old man from Oxford arrested on suspicion of rape and attempted rape," a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said.
"Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, we have decided that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute a 21-year-old man from Oxford who was arrested following a complaint of rape and a complaint of attempted rape made by two women," the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) added in its statement.
Despite calls to resign, Sullivan had remained in his position as president and survived a motion of no confidence after members voted not to put the no-confidence to a vote.
Oxford Union released a statement, saying: "The Union can confirm that the President, Ben Sullivan, was informed by his lawyers... that Thames Valley Police would not be pursuing any further action against him."
"As far as the Society is concerned, this is the end of the matter. We would like to thank Mr Sullivan for his work as President under the most difficult of circumstances and wish him well for the future".
Sullivan, a student at Christ Church College, faced a series of protests and was targeted with an open letter calling for his resignation.
Initially his deputy, Indian-origin student Mayank Banerjee, had announced he was taking over as acting-president of the union until Sullivan returned to take his seat at the head of union chamber.
The Oxford Union is considered one of the world's most famous debating societies, whose membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford.
Oxford Union president Ben Sullivan was arrested for rape and attempted rape of two under-graduates on May 7 and was released on bail until Wednesday.
"No further action was taken against the 21-year-old man from Oxford arrested on suspicion of rape and attempted rape," a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said.
Despite calls to resign, Sullivan had remained in his position as president and survived a motion of no confidence after members voted not to put the no-confidence to a vote.
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"As far as the Society is concerned, this is the end of the matter. We would like to thank Mr Sullivan for his work as President under the most difficult of circumstances and wish him well for the future".
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Initially his deputy, Indian-origin student Mayank Banerjee, had announced he was taking over as acting-president of the union until Sullivan returned to take his seat at the head of union chamber.
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