DR Dulcha Singh Brar, Director Students’ Welfare, has submitted his reply to the chargesheet served on him by the Punjab Agricultural University. Dr Brar is facing charges of sexual harassment levied against him by an employee of the university.

Though as per the guidelines, the deadline to reply to the chargesheet was February 5, but Dr Brar submitted it a day before on Wednesday evening.

Breaking his silence on the issue after almost six months, Dr Brar has said: “The reply was time-bound and hence I have submitted my reply. The charges are totally baseless for nothing of that sort ever happened.”

Dr Brar refused to divulge more details on the issue claiming that the matter is sub-judice. Interestingly, Dr Brar has already sought a stay on transfer to his parent department, on the inquiry against him and the fact-finding committee in the Punjab Haryana High Court. The court has granted him stay on repatriation to his parent department.

Commenting on reasons to not cooperate with the fact-finding committee, Dr Brar said: “I had demanded some documents from the committee which should have been given to me. After the chargesheet was served on me, I was given all the documents on January 6. But I still do not have the copy of the CD which is supposed to be the evidence against me though I have the transcript of the conversation. Without the documents and the evidence, I was not in a position to submit a reply.”

The Students’ Welfare director had refused to speak to the fact-finding committee headed by Dean College of Home Science Dr Neelam Grewal and did not appear for any hearing despite being asked by Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit Singh Kang.

Dr Kang, meanwhile, confirmed receiving Dr Brar’s reply. “I have received the reply but have not gone through it. I have asked the Registrar to look into the reply and we will proceed on the matter accordingly.”