Mumbai: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, has launched an inquiry into allegations of misconduct against former Assistant Professor Souvik Mondal, who has resigned from his position amidst the controversy.
The accusations, which include claims of harassment, defamation, nepotism, and misuse of institutional resources, have been strongly denied by Mondal, who insists they are misleading and aimed at damaging his reputation. A senior official at TISS, however, confirmed that the institution had initiated a probe against Mondal.
Among the most serious allegations is the claim that Mondal engaged in misconduct towards female students. Mondal, who has been accused by a female student of passing inappropriate and sexually charged comments in a complaint made to the administration, has categorically denied any wrongdoing, stating that he has always maintained a professional and respectful environment in his classroom and that no formal complaints were lodged against him during his tenure. He argues that these claims are defamatory and designed to tarnish his credibility.
Mondal, who was a part of a team whose study concluded that Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants were affecting political landscape in Mumbai, told the FPJ, “ever since the research was published, I have been receiving dubious and thrustful emails”, hinting that the complaint may be another attempt to tarnish his image.
Another significant allegation involves the harassment of a faculty at International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) last year. According to the claims made by the faculty’s husband, Mondal engaged in behaviour that was deemed inappropriate, prompting an investigation by a fact-finding committee at the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai.
Mondal, however, contends that he has not received any adverse findings from the committee and maintains that his actions were focused on ensuring transparency and fairness in institutional processes.
Mondal has also been accused of exerting political influence and intimidation. Some sources allege that he used his position to threaten individuals within the institution, a claim that he has dismissed as entirely false. He insists that his engagement with students was limited to academic matters and that any accusations against him should be verified through CCTV footage and witness testimonies.
Further allegations suggest professional incompetence and mismanagement of institutional resources. Critics claim that Mondal misused his office space and stayed overnight without authorisation. He has denied this, stating that his presence beyond working hours was strictly for official duties and that security records can confirm his adherence to institutional protocols. He has also refuted claims that he was disrespectful towards campus staff, particularly security guards, maintaining that he held no authority that could enable him to misuse power.
Questions have also been raised regarding the hiring process for a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project at TISS, with allegations that Mondal influenced the appointment of his brother, Kalyan Mondal. However, he asserts that all recruitment decisions were made by the competent authorities, including then Chairperson Professor Shankar Das, and that his brother had been employed at TISS before his own tenure.
Mondal has further claimed that in the past four to five months, there has been a targeted effort to malign his character, including what he describes as a false legal notice and a threat under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
With the inquiry now underway, TISS is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
