The state minority affairs and madrasah education department on Tuesday sought a report from the vice-chancellor of Aliah University on the humiliation he was subjected to on the campus by Trinamul student leaders.

VC Mahammad Ali, who was moved to tears while recounting the humiliation during a television interview on Monday, told The Telegraph on Tuesday: “The department has sought to know from me what happened last week. I will report what unfolded as much as possible, maintaining decency. The kind of abusive language that was used cannot be mentioned in the report.”

Ghulam Rabbani, the minister in charge of the department, said: “We have sought a report based on what has emerged on social media and reported in print and electronic media. We condemn what has happened. Usually a VC is supposed to send a report to the department about such incidents. But in this case he (Ali) has not done so. Therefore we have sought a report.”

A man whom the VC identified as Giyasuddin Mondal, a former president of the Aliah University unit of the Trinamul Congress Chhatra Parishad, could be heard telling the VC in a widely circulated video on social media: “I usually slap hard. You can ask anyone…. I have been in jail (for offences) under non-bailable sections. You have to cancel the list. Hold your ear.”

Was he surprised that the minority affairs and madrasah education department took as many as four days to seek a report? "I don’t know. Amazed, dumbfounded – I don’t have any feeling. I will do whatever I have been asked to do,” Ali said.

The VC, who has been staying away from the campus since the harassment, said he was yet to decide when he would return to the university.

“I need time…. I am also consulting doctors,” he said.

Ali’s four-year term as Aliah VC is due to expire on April 12.

An official of the university said Giyasuddin, along with his supporters, had stormed the VC’s office around 5pm on April 1, alleging that Ali had inducted names of his choice on the list of students eligible for the PhD programme. Giyasuddin and his supporters pressed for the cancellation of the list.

“We came up with the list based on the performance of the applicants at the research eligibility test, which was conducted following UGC norms. The final list will be published after a viva. Still we are open to addressing the allegations. The committee concerned will address the issue. But the assault cannot be justified,” Ali said.

Minister Rabbani said his department “expects that the VC will mention in his report what triggered the protest over the PhD list".

Asked whether he would be willing to continue as VC if the government extended his tenure, Ali said: “Honestly, it would be very difficult for me to take the offer. I am an academic. It’s difficult for an academic to face students who don’t have any basic sense of morality and courtesy. They have destroyed the environment”.

Ali, who had taught chemistry at Jadavpur University before taking over as Aliah VC, has written to JU VC Suranjan Das, expressing his willingness to resume teaching there after April 12.