MSU professor held for spraying V-C's chair with herb that stings

The officiating dean of the law faculty of M S University (MSU), Ghanshyam Solanki, was arrested by city's Fatehgunj police Monday evening for allegedly spraying a herb, known in local language as kuvech which causes acute irritation when it comes in contact with human body, on the chair that was to be occupied by university vice-chancellor (V-C) Yogesh Singh at a national seminar organised Saturday.

The seminar on the Right to Education (RTE), organised at the law faculty, was attended by the V-C. Gujarat High Court judge Sonia Gokani was the chief guest at the event. The effect of the herb was so strong that Singh was forced to leave the venue within 2-3 minutes after he occupied the chair, university officials said.

Police said Solanki had confessed to having applied the herb on the chair.

Solanki is an associate professor with the faculty of law. He has also served as the senate member of the university in the past. "Solanki has confessed to having applied it. However, he said the herb was not targeted at the V-C, but at the dean of the faculty, S S Bhattacharya, with whom he wanted to settle some personal scores," Fatehgunj police inspector P L Chaudhary said.

"We are trying to find out why he wanted to hurt the dean," he said.

Solanki was booked under Sections 186, 323, and 290 of the IPC for obstructing a public servant in discharge of public duty, causing hurt and public nuisance, Chaudhary said.

Kuvech is known for causing extreme irritation when it comes in contact with the body. It has various agricultural and horticultural use, besides medicinal properties.

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