CHENNAI: Kalakshetra dance school has suspended the faculty member arrested in connection with the sexual-assault case filed by an alumnus. “Apart from suspending Haripathman, the accused, the institute has started procedures to terminate three other teachers facing similar allegations”, the administration said.

Students had staged protest against the teachers facing sexual-assault charges. They discontinued the protest after the police registered a case against the accused.

Meanwhile, the complainant said that she faced severe verbal abuse from Haripathman. “He invited me to his house but when I rejected the invitation, he started abusing me in front of others. He even body-shamed me inside the classroom. No action has been taken despite filing a complaint with Kalakshetra Foundation Director and Internal committee”, she alleged.

“Haripathman instructed me to participate in a dance competition outside the institute but I left the event after realizing that the dance was planned in front of drunkards. I was forced to discontinue my studies owing to his abusive behavior”, she added.