Chandigarh student acquitted in Boston, seeks to sit in exam

CHANDIGARH - A Panjab University (PU) student, who was accused of molesting a British woman in the US but was acquitted of the charge by a Boston court, is planning to approach Punjab and Haryana High Court if the varsity does not allow him to sit for the examination.

Nitin Jindal, 22, a student of the fifth semester in the University Institute of Law Studies (UILS), had gone to the US to participate in the 56th session of Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) in Boston Feb 11-14.

He was arrested Feb 14 following a complaint of molestation by the British girl. However, he was acquitted by the court April 9 as the complainant repeatedly failed to appear before the court.

Meanwhile, the PU had constituted a committee to look into the issue. It decided to debar him from appearing in the exams and started the process of expelling him from the institution.

Jindal’s final exams are scheduled to start April 21.

“I have met DSW (dean students’ welfare) Friday and submitted my acquittal orders with him. PU authorities succumbed to the pressure of media and students’ political parties and blindly started the process of expelling me,” Jindal said.

“If they do not allow me to sit in the exams, then I will move the high court. It’s really illogical that they took this step without verifying the details of this case,” he said.