Two journalists held in Aligarh gay teacher case

ALIGARH - Two journalists have been arrested on charges of breaching the privacy of gay Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) teacher S.R. Siras who was found dead earlier this month, police said Monday.

Adil and Siraj, journalists with a local TV channel, were arrested late Sunday. The two along with another mediaperson filmed Siras in a consensual homosexual act with a rickshaw puller in his room in the AMU premises.

“Of the three journalists, two have been arrested. On the directions of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court, a case under several sections of the IPC was registered against the three journalists and four AMU officials April 9,” police Inspector Ghanshyam Singh told IANS.

“On the basis of the ongoing enquiry, we may make more arrests in connection with the case,” he added.

Along with the three journalists, four AMU officials - Zubair Khan (proctor), Farheed Ahmad Khan (deputy proctor), Rahat Abrar (public relations officer), and N.A.K. Durrani (media adviser) - were booked under various sections of the IPC.

Siras, who was found dead under mysterious circumstances April 7, was suspended Feb 9 by the administration on grounds of “gross misconduct”.

He had moved the high court against his suspension and the CJM court accusing some AMU officials and journalists of invading his privacy by carrying a sting operation on him. The high court April 1 stayed his suspension and the university’s order asking him to vacate his official accommodation.

Siras was associated with the AMU since 1988 as a lecturer of Marathi and was promoted as reader in 2003 under the Career Advancement Scheme.