In what has become the latest development in the row of shocking sexual allegations from the students of the prominent Kalakshetra art institute in Chennai, the Chennai police have been grilling one of the accused faculty members, Hari Padman, with questions, hours after apprehending him. 

The allegations from the institution were startling the people and for the first time, the campus that nurtured the art and culture has witnessed staunch protests from the students. Tensions and furores have flanked the campus for the past few days and has drawn a national attention. According to the latest report, the Chennai police are investigating Hari Padman in connection to the allegations raised by the students at the MGR Nagar police station in the city. 

Hari Padman, who was a dance teacher at the institution, was booked by the Adyar police on Friday - March 31, based on a complaint filed by an alumna against him. In her plaint, the complainant said that Hari Padman had sent obscene messages to her through social media and he also had harassed her when she was a student at the institution. A case has been filed against Padman under Section 354A - sexual harassment, 509 - word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman, 506 - criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu prohibition of harassment of woman act. 

Padman was reportedly absconding to evade the arrest and the police officials have intensified the search. Finally, the police apprehended him from a hideout near Madhavaram in Chennai on Monday - April 3 and brought him to the MGR Nagar police station for further investigation. According to reports, a team of Tamil Nadu Police on Sunday - April 2 rushed to Kerala to record the statements of witnesses in the sexual harassment case against Hari Padman. 

Parallelly to the FIR registered against Padman, the Chairperson of Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women, AS Kumari had visited the Kalakshetra campus after the students, who staged a night-long protest, had demanded action against the four accused faculty members - Hari Padman, Sanjith Lal, Sai Krishnan, and Sreenath. It has been reported that about ninety complaints were submitted to Kumari from the students about the sexual allegations. 

Kumari said that the commission would evaluate all the written complaints after which she will be furnishing her report to Chief Minister MK Stalin. The government will then direct the police to take action, based on the Chief Minister's assessment. The Commission has also issued summons to the Director of the Kalakshetra Foundation to appear for an inquiry. 

Kalakshetra Foundation is an arts and cultural academy that operates under the Union Ministry of Culture. Based in Chennai, the institution has a nationwide prominence and is known for its teaching in Bharatanatyam dance and Gandharvaveda music. It has a long tradition of contributing to the culture and is one of the top destinations for the students to aspire in arts and culture. It has also been declared as an institute of national importance.