Rohtak, Haryana (Nov 1): Three individuals associated with Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) have been booked for sexual harassment and criminal intimidation after allegedly asking female sanitation workers to send pictures of their private parts to “prove” they were menstruating, police said on Friday, October 31, 2025.
The accused are sanitation supervisors Vitender and Vinod, along with an assistant registrar Shyam Sundar. The FIR was registered under the charges including sexual harassment, intent to insult the modesty of a woman, assault or use of criminal force on a woman, and criminal intimidation. Police said provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act may also be invoked.
The alleged incident took place on October 26, a few hours before Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh was scheduled to visit the campus, as per The Print.
Three female sanitation workers told supervisors they were unwell due to menstruation and could not work faster. Despite having prior approval from other seniors, the women were accused of lying. Supervisors Vitender and Vinod allegedly demanded them to remove their clothes or have photos taken of their private parts in the washroom to confirm they were menstruating.
“We told them we could not work faster as we were unwell, but they demanded we click photos of our private parts to prove it. When we refused, we were abused and threatened with dismissal,” one sanitation worker, employed with MDU for 11 years, said in her complaint.
The women alleged that the supervisors claimed they were following instructions from Assistant Registrar Shyam Sundar, who has denied giving any such orders.
Under pressure, two of the women were taken to the washroom by another female employee, as directed by supervisors Vinod and Vitender, who instructed her to click photos to prove that they were menstruating.
The matter escalated after the photos were shown to the supervisors, leading to protests by students, staff, and student organizations on campus. Demonstrators shared videos and photos of the incident with the chairperson of the Haryana State Women Commission.
A professor, Dr. Bhagat Singh, reached the spot and assured protesters of a thorough investigation and strict action, including possible dismissal of the accused.
MDU Registrar K.K. Gupta announced that supervisor Vitender has been placed under suspension with immediate effect, pending disciplinary proceedings. The university has suspended both Vitender and Vinod, who were hired on contract through Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam Limited.
“We will investigate the entire incident. Whoever is found guilty will not be spared. If required, a case will also be registered against the accused under the SC/ST Act,” Gupta told reporters.
In a statement, MDU said any form of workplace insecurity will not be tolerated. It reaffirmed its commitment to “always providing a safe, respectful, and culturally sensitive work environment.” The university emphasized that “the safety and respect of women are paramount” and promised the “strictest action” against misconduct.
This incident highlights the urgent need for sexual justice, defined as ensuring equal rights, dignity, and access to sexual health and choices for all, free from discrimination and violence. As noted on World Sexual Health Day 2025 under the theme “Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?”, such violations underscore the importance of robust legal frameworks to uphold bodily autonomy, protect marginalized communities from harassment, and guarantee freedom from coercion in matters of reproductive health.
(With inputs from PTI)
(Rh/VK)
