28-Year-Old JNU Scholar Allegedly Drugged, Raped By Fellow Student

A students’ union activist at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi has been accused of raping a fellow student inside his hostel room after spiking her drink.

Anmol Ratan, 29, a member of the AISA or All India Students’ Association, has been accused of rape by a first year doctorate student. Mr Ratan, a former state president of AISA, has been expelled by the union.

The 28-year-old woman has told the police that Mr Ratan contacted her after she posted on her Facebook page that she wanted to watch the movie ‘Sairat’ and requested a CD. Mr Ratan allegedly messaged her saying that he had a copy. The young woman alleges that he picked her up and took her to the Brahmaputra Hostel on campus, where he stays.

She was allegedly offered a spiked drink and then raped after she blacked out. The woman has accused Mr Ratan of threatening her when she came to, and warning her against telling anyone. She went to the police on Sunday.

In a statement announcing Mr Ratan’s expulsion, AISA said that it “takes serious note of the fact that Anmol Ratan, a leading activist of AISA, is facing a criminal complaint of sexual assault. AISA will reflect on and deal with this issue with all the firmness it deserves.” An AISA leader, Ashutosh Kumar, said: “We stand by the complainant in her fight for justice.”