Bengaluru Professor Arrested For Harassment After Calling Student Home For Classes

A 45-year-old professor from a private university in Bengaluru has been arrested on charges of sexual harassment. Sanjeev Kumar Mandal, the head of department (HOD), was taken into custody on Monday after a 19-year-old student filed a complaint with the Tilaknagar police on Sunday. Mandal was booked under section 75 (Sexual Harassment) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He was later released on station bail.

According to the third-year BCA student, the professor invited her to his residence in Jayanagar on September 25, 2025, purportedly for lunch and to assist her with her studies and attendance. The student stated that she accepted the invitation because Mandal claimed his wife and children would be home.

However, the situation took a disturbing turn when, according to the victim's statement, Mandal allegedly behaved inappropriately. The student reported that Mandal asked her to end her relationship with her boyfriend and move into a PG accommodation near his apartment, so she could regularly visit his house to clear any doubts. He allegedly promised to help her with marks, money, and attendance. Despite her objections, he touched her inappropriately.

The victim recounted an incident where she received a phone call from a friend while at Mandal's residence. Although Mandal discouraged her from answering, she informed her friend of her whereabouts. Following this, Mandal allegedly claimed he was merely testing her loyalty towards her boyfriend and cautioned her against disclosing the incident to anyone.

University authorities have stated that the student has not yet filed a formal complaint with them.

This incident follows a similar case in July 2025, where two college lecturers and their friend were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting and blackmailing a student in Mudbidri, Karnataka. In that case, the accused, Narendra (a Physics lecturer), Sandeep (a Biology lecturer), and their friend Anoop, allegedly used academic assistance and digital blackmail to trap the student. Narendra initially befriended the student, offering study notes and frequent communication. He then lured her to Anoop's house, where he allegedly raped her and threatened her into silence. Sandeep later allegedly blackmailed her with photos and videos from her encounter with Narendra, and Anoop sexually assaulted her as well.

These incidents highlight the vulnerability of students and the potential for abuse of power by educators. They also underscore the importance of institutional accountability and the need for robust mechanisms to address complaints of harassment and ensure the safety and well-being of students.