A viral video showing a senior female professor at a state-run university in West Bengal performing wedding rituals with a student in a classroom has sparked controversy, prompting an official inquiry, university officials said on Wednesday.

The incident took place at the Psychology Department of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) in Haringhata, Nadia district. The video shows the professor, dressed as a bride, and a first-year student engaging in Hindu Bengali wedding rituals, including sindoor daan and mala bodol.

Following public outrage, the university formed a three-member inquiry committee and sought an explanation from the professor. She claimed the act was a psycho-drama demonstration as part of her class and was not intended to be a real ceremony.

According to her, the videos were recorded for in-house documentation but were leaked to misrepresent the Psychology Department. Despite her clarification, she has been asked to go on leave until the inquiry is completed.

The investigation is being conducted by a panel of three female faculty members from other departments. MAKAUT’s officiating vice-chancellor, Tapas Chakraborty, stated that while the professor insisted the act was purely academic, the university decided to remove her from duty temporarily due to the controversy.

The student involved has also been asked to refrain from attending classes until the probe is concluded.

The professor was unavailable for comment.

Source: PTI