Central University of Kerala assistant professor arrested for sexually harassing woman at amusement park

Efthikar Ahamed (51), an assistant professor at the Central University of Kerala (CUK), was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a woman. The arrest was made on the evening of May 13 by the Taliparamba police in Kannur. He was remanded in Kannur Central Jail.

The alleged incident took place on May 13 at a water theme park in Parassinikadu in Kannur. In her complaint, the 22-year-old woman alleged that Dr. Ahamed “treated her rudely and harassed her” while she was in the wave pool. After the woman raised the alarm, park authorities alerted the police.

Police have registered a case and charged him under Section 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage the modesty of a woman) and Section 354(A) (unwanted and explicit sexual advances) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He was later brought before the judge, who remanded him in custody.

In November 2023, proceedings against Dr. Ahamed filed after first-year PG English students accused him of giving “lewd lectures under the guise of poetry” and molesting a female student who passed out in class.

The university had investigated the allegations and led to his suspension on February 29, 2024, which was extended following student protests.

He was recently reinstated and placed in the Integrated Teacher Training Program.

Dr. Ahamed, a native of Eripuram in Kannur, joined the Central University of Kerala in 2016 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of English and Comparative Literature.