Kendrapara, Nov. 22: A managing director of a private college in Pattamundai allegedly molested a Plus Two student of the institution.

The 17-year-old girl alleged that she gone to the office of the accused Prabhash Dhal on the college campus and pleaded him to reconsider the decision to expel her from the hostel. Forty-five-year-old Dhal had allegedly made sexual advances towards her and verbally abused her. The incident occurred on November 16.

Kendrapara police chief Rabi Narayan Behera said a case was registered after the victim’s father lodged a complaint with the police.

“The FIR names Pravash Dhal, MD of the junior private college. Cases under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 354 (outraging the modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (use of obscene language) and 506 (criminal intimidation) have been registered against him. The accused is absconding. The matter is being investigated,” Behera said.

Leader of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association Nalini Prava Tarai said: “The police are trying to hush up the incident. Though complaint was lodged on November 17, it was treated as an FIR and case was registered on 21 November. The offender was allowed to escape”.

However, Behera denied the charge and added that case was registered after preliminary investigation.

The principal of the junior college, Arjun Biswal, said: “The girl student who has levelled allegations was earlier asked to vacate the college hostel for indulging in acts of indiscipline. The allegation is false and fabricated.”