12 Kolkata/Kalyani: Payel Banerjee, the Makaut applied psychology assistant professor in the eye of the classroom "wedding drama", has resigned. Banerjee, who was also the head of the department, emailed her resignation on Feb 1, the university said, giving clear indications that the university might accept it.
"She sent her resignation through mail on Feb 1. We have started the (severance) process because there are so many things related to it. She was a contractual assistant professor, so we need to see all the terms and conditions. A note sheet has to be prepared," said university registrar Partha Pratim Lahiri.
In her email, Banerjee reportedly mentioned that she was not in a mental state to continue teaching on the Makaut's Haringhata campus. TOI tried to contact Banerjee, but her phone was switched off.
The controversy started with a widely circulated "wedding" video of Banerjee and a first-year student, prompting the university authorities to order an inquiry. Though Banerjee called it a part of a "psychodrama", the university committee, which submitted a preliminary probe report, debunked her claim. Immediately after the video came to everyone's notice, Banerjee was sent on compulsory leave. She took to the social media and insisted it was a psychodrama and also claimed her colleagues used the video to malign her image.
The university probe committee was scheduled to speak to Banerjee this week before submitting the final report but she resigned before it.
The registrar told reporters, "The preliminary report of the inquiry committee could not corroborate Banerjee's claims that it was part of a psychodrama. But the committee could not speak to her as she was sent on a compulsory leave. Our first and foremost priority is to conduct the ongoing first semester exams smoothly. The vice-chancellor has himself spoken to the first-year student, who is also appearing for his exams. The final inquiry report and speaking to the person concerned will be done subsequently."