St Xavier's Guest Speaker Accused of Groping Students During College Fest
St Xavier's students accuse guest speaker of sexual harassment at Antas fest.
St Xavier’s College in Mumbai faces intense scrutiny after more than 10 students accused a guest speaker of sexual harassment during the Antas festival, organized by the Hindi department on November 24-25. The national seminar speaker, staying in on-campus guest accommodation since November 23, allegedly began inappropriate behavior immediately, demanding prohibited paan masala from volunteers and appearing naked when one delivered it. Students reported the misconduct to faculty and the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) by afternoon, but action was delayed due to Principal Dr. Karuna Gokarn's absence.
Harassment escalated the next day with the speaker allegedly roaming campus, photographing female students without consent, collecting their phone numbers, and groping at least one. A college priest confronted him, discovered non-consensual images on his phone, and deleted them. Volunteers threatened to boycott the event, leading to instructions around 8 pm to escort him off campus without formally informing him of the allegations. An apology for "misbehaviour by a guest" appeared on Antas's Instagram on November 25.
Principal Dr. Karuna Gokarn stated the speaker was observed misbehaving and asked to leave the same day, with all safety protocols followed and victims urged to file ICC complaints. However, students allege the administration downplayed the incident, with organizers claiming the principal advised silence to protect the college's reputation and no legal action. Some faculty reportedly treated the speaker cordially despite complaints.
Victims and witnesses express ongoing trauma, fear of reprisal, and dissatisfaction with the "bare minimum" response, with many avoiding campus since November 24. One student felt relief only after priest intervention, while others question hours-long campus access for the accused. The incident has gone viral online amid student protests.
This case highlights institutional handling of sexual harassment claims, marking one of the first where both ICC and principal were directly involved at St Xavier’s. Broader concerns about student safety and accountability persist as no formal police complaint has been confirmed.
