Former Kalakshetra Professor Sheejith Krishna Arrested On Charges Of Sexual Assault (image-Facebook/Sheejith Krishna's Sahrdaya Foundation)
Sheejith Krishna, a former professor at Chennai’s famous Kalakshetra Foundation, was arrested on Monday by the Neelankarai all-women police following allegations of sexual assault made by two former students of Kalakshetra. The arrest was made under Section 376 (Punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The complainants, who studied at Kalakshetra between 1995 and 2007, alleged that they were subjected to multiple instances of sexual assault by Sheejith Krishna during their time at the institution, reported The News Minute. One of the women took her complaint to the Madras High Court in December 2023, leading to a court-directed investigation and subsequent arrest.
Sheejith Krishna, now an independent dancer and choreographer, is also known as one of the founders of the Sahrdaya Foundation, which focuses on arts education, performance, and community outreach. The allegations against him come in the wake of previous accusations of sexual misconduct within the Kalakshetra Foundation, a Union government-funded organisation.
Notably, last year saw a wave of allegations against senior faculty members at Kalakshetra, including Hari Padman and members of the repertory – Sanjith Lal, Sai Krishnan, and Sreenath – for creating a toxic environment and perpetrating sexual harassment. This led to night-long protests and demands for action by the students, resulting in the arrest of Hari Padman by the Adyar All Women’s Police Station (AWPS) in April 2023. No legal action has been taken against the three accused.
The incidents at Kalakshetra prompted an independent inquiry committee, chaired by retired judge Justice K. Kannan and set up by Chairman of the foundation S. Ramadorai, to investigate the allegations. The committee, comprising former state DGP Letika Saran and Dr. Shobha Varthaman, found Hari Padman guilty of sexual misconduct and recommended legal support for students reporting misbehaviour by other faculty members.
According to The News Minute, the survivors claimed that Padman would invite students to his place of residence on campus. Denying the invitations would lead to repercussions, they said. The arrest of Sheejith Krishna adds another chapter to the ongoing reckoning within the Kalakshetra Foundation.
The Madras High Court urged the institution to implement recommendations given by the independent committee, including banning the entry of students into the quarters of teachers except during community celebrations.
