New Delhi: A shocking incident has come to light from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar in Punjab, where a female PhD scholar was allegedly assaulted by a professor for refusing to accompany him on a Japan trip allegedly disguised as research work.
Ph.D Scholar Prachi Kadiyan informed, “Just because I was not entertaining and not saying yes to all the needs of Dr Lakhan Bainsla from IIT Ropar, he had anger and malice against me. He channelled all the rage on me by punching my eye and beating me
He wanted to go to Japan with me by masking that trip with research work.
She also accused IIT Ropar for being silent on this matter. She writes on X, “I clearly said no to him for going with him anywhere. No action has been taken against him so far by IIT Ropar. He had wrong intentions against me from long time, and he was threatening me that if I won’t do anything with him he will throw me out of PhD, I was pressurized.”
The IIT Ropar Professor allegedly installed cameras in his lab without taking permissions from higher authorities. She writes, “Dr Lakhan Bainsla from IIT Ropar has installed two cameras in his lab without taking any prior permissions from higher authorities to create some false proofs against me. No other lab in IIT Ropar has any camera except his lab. He deliberately installed cameras there. And no one even questioned him about this. Also, he was the only single person who was operating those two cameras. Whenever he wanted to come into the lab he used to turn off the cameras most of the time. But whenever he wanted to create some false proofs he kept them on, and was operating them single-handedly.
The PhD scholar also accused IIT Ropar for harassing her and her family in this matter. She writes, “Me and my family had meeting with director sir of IIT Ropar in which whole ICC members were there. In that meeting director sir said till tomorrow they will send the letter to Dr. Lakhan Bainsla and director sir said they will change my guide too. But nothing happened so far. In fact when my family left the IIT, I was called by ICC in night to give statement to the police that day only and I was asked to say to police that “That I am satisfied with ICC decision”. Also they were saying that they will look on each and everything over this matter
I don’t know what they are looking at? Related to guide no further proceedings I got so far. No one in IIT is taking care of my phone which has stolen (I had proofs in that phone against Dr. Lakhan Bainsla). In fact I was stopped to even enter in his lab anymore so that I could even look at my phone by herself. They send security guard to take my things back from that lab, and why they not even questing Dr. Lakhan. Like he deleted his linkedin account? Also ICC is calling me for the meetings. Me and family travelled back home and it was quite expensive. How can a middle class family afford travelling to IIT Ropar again and again in taxi?”
Just because I was not entertaining and not saying yes to all the needs of Dr Lakhan Bainsla from IIT Ropar, he had anger and malice against me
He channelled all the rage on me by punching my eye and beating me
He wanted to go to Japan with me by masking that trip with research… pic.twitter.com/cQn6ymoBuD— Prachi Kadiyan (@PrachiKadiyan__) May 2, 2026
After the matter came to light, IIT Ropar issued a statement saying that the concerned faculty member has been placed on forced leave. IIT Ropar clarified, “The Institute acted within 24 hours—ICC proceedings have begun, interim relief has been provided, and the concerned faculty member has been placed on forced leave. We are fully cooperating with authorities.”
IIT Ropar is fully aware of a incident reported by a PhD scholar. The Institute acted within 24 hours—ICC proceedings have begun, interim relief has been provided, and the concerned faculty member has been placed on forced leave.
We are fully cooperating with authorities. pic.twitter.com/czrZdEBXPN
— IIT ROPAR (@iitrpr) May 3, 2026
