Pune, 25th August 2023: In connection with the attempted suicide by a PhD student due to alleged plagiarism of her thesis, Dr. Mainak Manmath Nath Poddar, a professor and chair of Mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune, has been granted transit anticipatory bail by the Bombay High Court until August 28. The case is being investigated by the Delhi Police.
Dr. Poddar argued that since the main accused, Professor Dr. Anindya Goswami, was already granted protection from arrest by the Delhi High Court, he should also be given relief. He stated that he had been served notice to join the investigation on August 5, and he apprehended arrest due to the allegations against him.
Justice NJ Jamadar, presiding over a single-judge bench, noted that Dr. Poddar’s apprehension of arrest cannot be considered unfounded, given the circumstances of the case. The court acknowledged his willingness to cooperate with the investigation and decided to grant him interim protection to approach the competent court in Delhi for further legal remedies.
The allegations pertain to a PhD student at IISER, Pune, who had Dr. Anindya Goswami as her supervisor. She filed a report accusing Dr. Goswami of attributing another student’s work to her as an author. The initial FIR was filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the GTB Enclave Police Station. Dr. Goswami approached the Delhi High Court to have the FIR quashed, and he was granted protection from arrest on February 10 of this year.
Later, the investigation was transferred to the Cyber Police Station, Shahdara in Delhi, leading to Dr. Poddar being issued a notice to join the probe. Dr. Poddar’s lawyer, Senior Advocate Mihir Desai, emphasized that the primary allegations were against Dr. Goswami, who was already under protection from arrest.
Justice Jamadar’s order mandates that in the event of arrest, Dr. Poddar will be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 30,000 and sureties until August 28. He is expected to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
