Bhubaneswar, Aug. 18: A 29-year-old research scholar from the Indian Institute of Technology, who had alleged sexual harassment by an IIT professor here, today lodged a formal complaint with the Mahila police station.

The woman, who hails from Bengal's Nadia district, alleged that the institute's internal complaint committee, with which she had lodged the original complaint last October, was shielding the professor.

In her written complaint, the victim also alleged that the professor intentionally cancelled her PhD registration as well as that of her husband after she turned down the alleged sexual advances of the professor.

"The professor used to ask me to visit his office on the pretext of discussing the progress of my research, but he used to discuss personal issues instead. He even used to ask me about the timing of my menstrual cycle," she alleged.

The woman joined IIT, Bhubaneswar, in July 2011 and subsequently married one of her colleagues in November 2012.

She alleged that the professor was harassing her husband as well. The couple have a four-year-old son.

"I availed of maternity leave in May 2013 and during this period, the professor started harassing my husband. He also tried to convince my husband to seek a divorce from me. As he failed to succeed in his sexual advances, he started harassing my husband to such an extend that he suffered a brain stroke in June 2014," she alleged.

The woman, a chemistry MSc degree holder, also said that the professor was blackmailing her by saying that he would see to it that her husband did not get his degree.

"He suggested that I divorce my husband and send him to an ashram. He also offered Rs 10,000 a month to manage my family. Despite his efforts to pursue me, I vehemently spurned his advances. As a result, he cancelled the registration of my husband in February and my registration in June," she alleged.

The woman also raised doubts over the functioning of the internal complaint committee's inquiry and alleged that the professor was using his clout.

"The committee, instead of initiating action against the professor, threatened me for approaching them. It conducted a haphazard probe and gave the professor a clean chit. I lodged the police complaint challenging its findings," she said.

Deputy commissioner of police, Bhubaneswar, Satyabrata Bhoi said the police had begun a probe after making a station diary. "We will verify the allegations and if they are found to be true, we will register a case," he said.