LUCKNOW: An Aligarh Muslim University professor, on the verge of retirement, was suspended after some students set up cameras to catch him having consensual sex with a rickshaw-puller in his campus home, and sent the video film to university authorities. Dr Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, reader and chairman of Modern Indian Languages at AMU, now says he won't challenge his suspension and would voluntarily leave.

Siras's decision not to question his suspension has come as a relief to AMU authorities, who are more than keen to bury the “embarrassing episode'' as it could raise a serious issue of gay rights on the campus since the professor wasn't accused of any wrongdoing or criminal action. Consensual sex with a same-sex partner isn't a crime in itself.

“Siras was captured on camera having sex with a rickshaw-puller. It's a scandal that no institution of repute can overlook. Therefore he was placed under suspension on February 9 by the order of the VC, Prof P K Abdul Azis,'' said AMU public relations officer Rahat Abrar.

“Dr Siras lived in a house allotted to him in the medical colony on the AMU campus. On February 8, he was home in the company of a young rickshaw-puller from Jamalpur area of the town. Since the door was open, two reporters from a local TV channel barged into the house and filmed him and his companion. The video clippings were then sent to AMU authorities who were constrained to proceed against Siras,” said Abrar.

Siras was served a memo on February 9 by the office of the AMU registrar, Dr V K Abdul Jalil, under rule 403-C of the statute of the university, after a prima facie case of “gross misconduct'' was made out against him. Other disciplinary proceedings would follow only after framing of charges.

Amid swirling tales of his “sordid'' sexual preferences, Siras was quietly packing his bags. Talking to TOI over phone, he refused to contest the charges before any enquiry committee. “Let them say what they want to. I am not going to offer any clarification,'' he said. “You don't have to abuse back if someone abuses you. I am already on the verge of retirement and, therefore, would rather be gone than to stretch the issue,'' he said. This, the university authorities feel, “is the only respectable and sensible option under the unfortunate circumstances.''

source: TOI