A serious allegation of sexual harassment has surfaced at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore, leading to an official investigation and immediate administrative action. A female student has formally accused a fellow student, who was a member of the institute's placement cell, of sexual misconduct during an off-campus event.
Complaint Triggers Immediate Institutional Response
The institute's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) swiftly launched a probe after receiving the formal complaint on Thursday, December 4, 2025. In a decisive initial step, the ICC directed the accused student to step down from his position on the IIM Indore Placement Committee. IIM Indore Director Himanshu Rai confirmed to PTI that the student has complied with this directive and is no longer part of the committee.
Director Rai emphasized that the complaint is being investigated strictly in accordance with the Vishaka guidelines established by the Supreme Court of India. These guidelines, later formalized under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, provide the legal framework for addressing such complaints in workplaces and educational institutions.
ABVP Memorandum Demands Transparency and Support
The case came to broader attention after the local unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) submitted a memorandum to the IIM director. The student body's document alleged that a member of the placement committee had sexually harassed "some female students" at an event held outside the campus.
The ABVP's memorandum put forth several key demands to the IIM Indore management:
- Ensure a fair, transparent, and timely investigation into the allegations.
- Provide comprehensive mental, legal, and administrative support to the victims.
- Dissolve the current Placement Committee and form a new one to safeguard the investigation from potential "pressure and influence."
Investigation Proceeds Under Legal Framework
The ICC at IIM Indore is now tasked with conducting a thorough inquiry. These committees are mandated under the 2013 Act for all workplaces with ten or more employees, including educational institutions. Their role is to hear and resolve complaints of sexual harassment, ensuring a structured and legally sound redressal mechanism.
Director Himanshu Rai stated that the institute acted immediately upon receiving the complaint. "Immediately after receiving the complaint, the ICC asked the student concerned to step down from the Placement Committee. He is no longer on the committee," he stated clearly. This action underscores the institute's procedural adherence at the initial stage of the process.
The incident highlights the critical importance of robust internal mechanisms to address grievances of sexual harassment on campus. The outcome of the ICC's investigation, which must be conducted with utmost fairness to all parties involved, will be closely watched by the student community and the broader public.
