LUCKNOW: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) reader Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras case took yet another curious turn with the rickshaw-puller with whom the academic was caught on camera telling cops that he was obliging Siras for money.
"In his statement, the rickshaw-puller said that he knew Siras for six-odd months, ever since he carried him to his staff residence one evening. He said Siras had promised to take care of all his expenses on the marriage of his sister," said ASP Maan Singh Chauhan.
The statement will come as a setback for gay rights activists seeking just
ice for Siras, as, according to experts, money in exchange of sexual services renders the act illegal, irrespective of the sexual orientation of the individuals involved in the act.
In the light of the Delhi High Court order of 2009 on section 377 of the IPC, consensual sex between adults must not be seen as crime.
"Money or any other consideration, instead of consent, brings the entire thing under the definition of prostitution, which can't be held legal," says senior advocate Atul Verma, specialising in criminal cases.
Police sources said that the disgraced professor allegedly committed suicide.
Dr Siras, a reader and chairman of Modern Indian Languages at AMU, 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.On February 19, AMU vice chancellor P K Abdul Azis suspended Sirasi and asked him to vacate the varsity premises.
1] it is reported that Dr Siras had asked for a compensation of some 30 Lacks as compensation for his ill-treatment by the AMU.
2] The verdict of the Allahabad High Court was in any event a slap on the face of the AMU. It showed where the judges were leaning, and it is very likely that the compensation would have been allowed by the court.
3] The AMU VC is already under a cloud for financial bunglings. He is also aware of his very public role in what happened to Dr Siras.
4] If the compensation was allowed by the court, an extremely likely event, then the VC would have been directly held responsible for the blunder.
5] The VC is a very powerful and autocratic force in AMU / Aligarh with pretty good contacts. He may be said to have a very clear motive in ensuring that the compensation never materializes.
6] Suddenly a very normal and well adjusted Dr Siras, fresh from a whopping victory at the High Court, is found dead under very mysterious circumstances. Local police (the same ones that had so liked the VC's action against Dr Siras, that they had refused repeatedly register his FIR against the university) immediately claim suicide even before an autopsy is conducted.
7] The VC who till yesterday was all about screaming "Siras is an Ogre" is suddenly all misty eyed and overwhelmed.Mystery shrouds death of AMU professor
Aligarh Muslim University Professor Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, who was suspended from the university recently after he was filmed participating in a homosexual act with a rickshaw puller, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his rented accommodation in Aligarh on Wednesday evening. The 64-year-old professor was staying alone.
Only last week the Allahabad High Court had issued a stay order against Dr. Siras' suspension from the university and also on his ouster from his campus accommodation.
Superintendent of Police (Aligarh City) Man Singh Chauhan said: “Prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide or something like a heart attack. At the moment it does not seem to be a case of murder. Since a foul smell was emanating from the room, Dr. Siras must have been dead for a minimum of eight to twelve hours.”
Dr. Siras was also reportedly involved in a property dispute case and had gone to Nagpur recently for a court hearing.
Aligarh Muslim University spokesperson Rahat Abrar said on Wednesday evening: “Dr. Siras was staying in a rented accommodation in the Durgabai area of Marris Road. Neighbours complained to the police on Wednesday about a foul smell emanating from Dr. Siras' accommodation which was bolted from inside.”
“The police had to break open the door around 6 p.m. and found Dr. Siras lying on his bed with blood on his mouth. Until the post-mortem report comes in, it is difficult to comment.
The death could even have been due to natural causes such as a heart attack or brain haemorrhage,” he added.
“The university is saddened by his demise and the Vice-Chancellor is shocked and has expressed his condolences. The university had revoked Dr. Siras' suspension and he was to resume duty soon,” Dr. Abrar added.
University authorities said they would be talking to Dr. Siras' family to make arrangements for taking away the body.
‘Unexpected and shocking'
A philosophy teacher at AMU, Dr. Tariq Islam, who was a close friend of Dr. Siras, said: “The death is highly unexpected and shocking. Dr. Siras had come to meet me on Monday and he seemed his normal self. He was very happy about the Allahabad High Court stay order.
Mobile switched off
Since Tuesday morning people had been unable to contact him as his mobile phone was switched off. This was unusual because Dr. Siras never switched off his phone. He was not the type to react sharply to events and was tough.”
Anjali Gopalan of Naz Foundation, which has been supporting Dr. Siras, said: “When I spoke to him a couple of days ago he did not sound suicidal at all. I am horrified at the news of his death. It does not make sense. He was admittedly an old man and would have been undergoing tremendous stress because of the recent developments.”
