Lingaraj Sahoo, a Professor in the Biotechnology Department of IIT Guwahati has been reportedly suspended for sending vulgar SMS to one of his Female Students. Earlier he was arrested by the Police following a complaint by the Girl, but later released on bail. The girl student was a research scholar doing PhD under Sahoo.
Local News Reports suggest that, the complaint was filed on August 2 by a 25 year old girl alleging that  she was getting repeated text messages from Prof.  Sahoo seeking marriage. She further alleged Sahoo continued sending  such text messages from his mobile phone even after she requested him not to do so.
Subsequently he was arrested on August 13 and released on bail. “Â The professor, Lingaraj Sahoo, was booked under Sections 504 (intentional insult), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) IPC and Section 66A (offensive messages) of Information Technology Act 2000”, a Police Officer said to news reporters.
Sections 504 and 506 IPC involve punishment of up to two years and one year imprisonment respectively along with fine.
The Girl had also lodged a complaint with the IIT Guwahati director Gautam Baruah  and the matter was referred to the IIT’s working women’s committee. Upon the recommendation of WWC, the Professor was suspended yesterday.
Police Officers say that Sahoo told them  that he lost the SIM card from where alleged SMS were sent. However no complaint regarding the lost SIM Card was made with Police hence it was assumed that it was Sahoo who sent those Vulgar messages. Sahoo aged 40, hails from Odisha and is married