Noida: Mahinder Singh Chouhan, one of two Sharda University faculty members arrested for abetment to suicide, has filed an application for bail at the district and sessions court. He and his colleague in the dental science department, Shayri Vashisht, have been in judicial custody for over a month now after a suicide note from 21-year-old BDS student Jyoti Jhangra accused them of harassment, leading to her death.Chouhan’s case will be taken up for hearing on Aug 22. Vashisht, however, has not sought bail yet.

Chouhan’s counsel, Jayendra Dubey, refrained from discussing the bail grounds, citing the matter as sub-judice. “Let the court first hear the matter on Aug 22. Only then will we be able to comment on the case,” he said.

Chouhan and Vashisht — both associate professors — are faced with multiple charges, including abetment of suicide under Section 108 of the BNS. Additional charges include causing disappearance of evidence, giving false information, intentional insult to provoke a breach of peace, intended insult to breach the modesty of a woman, and criminal intimidation.

The two professors were arrested on July 19, a day after Jyoti died by suicide at her hostel room and specifically named the two faculty members in her note, accusing them of mental harassment.

The professors, according to a close friend, had accused Jyoti of forging signatures and humiliated her. In her note, Jyoti wrote, “If I die, teachers of PCP and dental material are to blame. Mahinder Sir and Shairy Maam are responsible for my death. They mentally harassed me. They humiliated me. I was in stress because of them for a long time. I want them to face the same thing. I am sorry. I can’t live like this anymore. I can’t.”

Following the incident, the university formed an inquiry committee, which included the pro-VC, dean of humanities and social science, chief proctor, a professor of law, and a career counsellor, to investigate the allegations.

The university’s internal complaints committee (ICC) has submitted its investigation report to the vice-chancellor, but it is yet to be disclosed. “The university is fully complying with all instructions from the Supreme Court,” a spokesperson said.

The apex court is monitoring the case, having taken suo motu cognisance of the student’s suicide.

Jyoti’s father, Ramesh Jhangra, filed an FIR naming four other university staff members —Anurag Hasti, Surabhi Duggal, dean M Siddharth, and head of department (BDS) Ashish Choudhary. While police have questioned them, no arrests have been made.

Police said they hadn’t found any incriminating evidence against the university staff so far. “We’ve also sent handwriting samples to forensic experts for a thorough analysis. Their report is still awaited,” a senior police official said.