Bengaluru, India: Infosys co-founder Senapati Kris Gopalakrishnan and 17 others, including former Indian Institute of Science (IISc) director Balram, have been charged under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The legal case has been initiated based on allegations made by Durgappa, a former IISc faculty member, who has claimed that he was unfairly targeted in the 2014 honey trap case, leading to his dismissal. Durgappa, a member of the Bovi tribe, has also accused the accused of caste discrimination, verbal abuse, and threats.
The complaint triggered legal action.
The FIR was lodged at the Sadashivnagar police station in Bengaluru on January 27, 2025, following a private complaint filed by Durgappa. The 71st City Civil and Sessions Court directed the police to register a case based on his allegations. Durgappa, who works at IISc’s Centre for Sustainable Technology, claimed that he was wrongly dismissed from his job due to the honey trap case, which he claims was fabricated.
Allegations of irregularities and defamation
In his complaint, Durgappa has made serious allegations against IISc and the Union Education Ministry. He says that despite IISc’s assurance of reinstatement, he has not been reinstated. Durgappa further claims that his career has been tarnished, which has prevented him from getting jobs across India. He claims that the accused have defamed and threatened him, including Govindan Rangarajan, Sridhar Warrier and other top IISc officials.
Durgappa has accused the institute of misappropriating funds worth ₹2,500 crore. He has also criticized the handling of sexual harassment complaints at the institute, alleging that the sexual harassment committee has violated Supreme Court orders by not including external NGO members. Durgappa claims that despite 30 such complaints being filed, no concrete action has been taken.
Widespread allegations against IISc leadership
The allegations against Gopalakrishnan and the other accused raise questions about the governance of IISc. As a member of the board of trustees, Gopalakrishnan is directly involved in the leadership of the prestigious institute. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, there was no immediate response from Gopalakrishnan or the IISc faculty about the ongoing investigation.
Implications of the case for higher education institutions
The case has attracted significant attention not only from the high-profile individuals involved but also from educational institutions in India, as it could have wider implications. Allegations of caste-based discrimination, corruption, and mishandling of sexual harassment cases highlight serious problems in institutional accountability and governance at some of India’s leading educational institutions.
As of this writing, the investigation is still in its early stages and more details are awaited. Local authorities have yet to issue a public statement on the progress of the case.
The legal process moves forward.
As the case moves forward, many are closely monitoring the situation for updates. If the allegations are proven true, it could have significant consequences for those involved, including legal and reputational ramifications. The investigation will shed light on the practices and governance structures at IISc, one of India’s most renowned research institutes, and the broader issue of caste discrimination in the academic environment.