'He said marks could be higher': Inside the JNU harassment allegations against a professor now under probe

One JNU student's message changed the conversation

It reportedly began with a message.

Not a police complaint. Not a protest.

A message in a student WhatsApp group.

According to reports, after viva examinations held earlier this year, one student shared her experience with fellow students. What followed was something universities across the world have seen before: other students began responding with stories of their own. Soon, what appeared to be an isolated allegation had grown into a formal complaint involving more than 10 students.

Today, Jawaharlal Nehru University's Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is investigating allegations against a professor accused of sexual harassment, inappropriate conduct and misuse of academic authority. The professor has denied the allegations.

What exactly are students alleging?

According to students quoted by multiple media outlets, the complaints describe a pattern of behaviour rather than a single incident.

The allegations include sexually suggestive remarks during classes and viva examinations, inappropriate comments with sexual overtones, and alleged advances made during gatherings at the professor's residence on campus. Some students have also alleged that better marks were hinted at in exchange for responding positively to his advances.

These allegations have not been proven, and the ICC inquiry is ongoing.

Why is the 'extra marks' allegation drawing so much attention?

Because it strikes at the heart of a university relationship.

Students can challenge a lecture. They can disagree with a professor.

What they cannot easily escape is the professor's influence over grades, evaluations and recommendations.

That is why allegations involving academic rewards or penalties often generate intense scrutiny. The concern is not only about inappropriate conduct but also about whether a position of authority was used improperly.

How did the case grow from one complaint to many?

One of the most striking details in the reports is how the allegations reportedly surfaced.

After the first complaint emerged, other students and some senior students are said to have come forward with similar concerns. Several reportedly supported the complainants and shared accounts of behaviour they found troubling.

That transformed the story from an individual complaint into a wider campus issue.

What has JNU done so far?

The matter is currently before the university's Internal Complaints Committee, the body responsible for examining sexual harassment complaints on campus.

Students have reportedly been called to record statements, and the inquiry remains ongoing. JNU has not publicly disclosed the professor's identity, and the administration has not issued a detailed public statement on the allegations so far.

What has the professor said?

According to reports, the professor has rejected the allegations, describing them as false and baseless.

No findings have yet been issued by the ICC, meaning the allegations remain under investigation.

Why is this story bigger than one campus?

Because every university runs on trust.

Students trust that grades reflect performance. They trust that classrooms are safe spaces. They trust that authority will not be used as leverage.

That is why cases like this resonate far beyond a single department or a single institution.

For now, the central question remains unanswered: what will the ICC find?

Until that investigation concludes, JNU's campus will be watching closely. And so will many others.

(With inputs from agencies)