JNU dismisses Congress MP Angomcha and professor Bimol Akoijam after sexual harassment inquiry involving 11 female students

According to reports, the complaints were submitted in May 2026. The controversy escalated after students alleged that the university administration had not taken appropriate action on their complaints, which they claimed had been submitted to the Vice-Chancellor.

The allegations initially came to wider attention after a student shared her account of alleged inappropriate behavior following viva examinations. Other students subsequently came forward with their accounts. According to reports, some students alleged that Akoijam had invited them to his campus residence under the pretext of meetings or gatherings and attempted to sexually harass them. Some also alleged that he made obscene and inappropriate remarks during classes.

Akoijam has consistently denied the allegations, describing them as false and motivated. In an earlier response, he accused what he called "racist schemers" of attempting to damage his reputation through unverified allegations and lies. There was no immediate reaction from him following the university's dismissal order.

The case had also drawn the attention of student organizations and women's rights bodies, with demands for a fair investigation, accountability and action against the professor.

On Sept 16, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) took suo motu cognizance of a video circulating on social media concerning the allegations. The Commission sought a factual report from the JNU administration, including details of whether the complaints had been referred to the Internal Complaints Committee and what action had been taken.

The DCW also directed the university to submit an Action Taken Report within three days. It emphasized that complaints of sexual harassment must be addressed fairly, promptly and sensitively in accordance with the law.

The matter had sparked protests on the JNU campus, with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organization affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), demanding a fair, independent and time-bound investigation. The organization had questioned the delay in addressing the complaints and called for transparency in the inquiry.

Before the dismissal, ABVP had staged protests demanding Akoijam's suspension and removal from service. The organization welcomed the university's decision, describing it as a step toward accountability and justice for the complainants.

ABVP JNU president Mayank Panchal said the dismissal reflected the organization's sustained demand that complaints raised by women students be taken seriously and investigated without delay.

"For the ABVP, the safety, dignity and justice of female students are not matters of political gain but serious issues tied to student rights and university responsibility. Justice, sensitivity and accountability must take precedence over political partisanship or double standards regarding women's safety," the organization said in a statement.

ABVP JNU secretary Praveen Kumar Piyush said the organization had consistently campaigned for an impartial inquiry and staged a protest in September seeking urgent action. He added that political influence should not obstruct accountability.

"It is not enough for the Congress Lok Sabha MP to step down; strict legal action must be taken against him, and he should be in jail," Piyush said.

In another statement following the dismissal, ABVP said, “In this case, 11 female students had filed complaints of sexual harassment against the Congress MP. After considering the Internal Committee’s report and the available facts, the university dismissed him from service.”

Piyush reiterated the organization's demand for further action, saying, “ABVP JNU has consistently fought for the safety and justice of female students. Our position is clear: no one’s political position or influence should stand in the way of impartial action. The university administration must continue to ensure accountability so that female students receive justice, safety, and dignity. The dismissal of the Congress Lok Sabha MP from university service is not enough; strict legal action must be taken against him, and he must be sent to jail.”

The university's decision has also triggered a political confrontation, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announcing nationwide protests against Akoijam and questioning the Congress leadership's response to the allegations.

The BJP announced that demonstrations would be held outside Congress offices in state capitals on Saturday, October 10, followed by protests at district headquarters across the country on Monday, October 12. The demonstrations are expected to be led by the BJP Mahila Morcha and women leaders, with party workers participating in large numbers and carrying flags and placards.

The party has questioned the Congress leadership's accountability over the allegations against Akoijam. It also plans to highlight what it describes as a contrast between the party's response to the case and Rahul Gandhi's nationwide campaign against patriarchy.

BJP national general secretary Smriti Irani also criticized the Congress over the allegations in a post on X.

“The so-called ‘Smash the Patriarchy’ brigade of the Congress ecosystem stands completely exposed. Will it demand accountability from its MP, Bimol Akoijam over serious sexual harassment complaints, or will the brigade go conspicuously silent just because it’s convenient?…” Irani wrote.

Akoijam represents the Inner Manipur constituency in the Lok Sabha. He won the seat on a Congress ticket in the 2024 general elections and continued to serve as a professor at JNU before the university's dismissal order.

The case has placed the university's disciplinary action alongside wider demands for accountability from political parties and calls for legal action beyond the termination of his academic employment. While JNU has acted on the findings of its Internal Committee under the applicable service rules, the BJP and ABVP have demanded further action against the Congress MP.

The planned protests on Oct 10 and Oct 12 are expected to bring the allegations and the university's decision into sharper national focus. The university's order establishes the dismissal from service, while demands for additional legal action remain part of the political and public response to the case.