KATHMANDU, March 13: A student at the Kathmandu School of Law (KSL) has accused the institution’s executive director, Yubaraj Sangroula, of sexual misconduct. The student has also alleged that the institution is protecting its chief instead of addressing the complaint.
In a social media post on March 9, Sandhya Gautam (sandygeeez) expressed frustration over what she described as the institution’s swift response in silencing victims while ignoring complaints. She claimed that her formal complaint, filed on December 5, 2024, remains overlooked.
Gautam’s post detailed what she called a culture of impunity at KSL, where allegations of sexual harassment are dismissed while students are intimidated into silence, and those in power remain unchecked. She accused Sangroula of making inappropriate remarks about female students' bodies, pressuring students into giving him massages, and threatening academic consequences for those who declined or resisted him.
“My only one-on-one conversation with him? He used it to dictate my personal choices — telling me not to sleep with men, to just get married, and to stay away from relationships because ‘all a boyfriend would want is sex,” Gautam wrote in her widely shared (facebook?) post.
She further alleged that professors at KSL openly harassed students, dismissed the existence of marital rape, and discriminated against LGBTQIA+ students. She claimed that students who spoke up faced suspension, intimidation, and academic threats.
Despite her efforts to seek justice through official channels, Gautam said her complaint was ignored — until she went public on her social media. Following her Instagram post, she alleged that her parents received a warning call from the school. “How do you move so quickly to threaten those who speak out but let predators roam freely in your halls?” she questioned.
While some faculty members have expressed support, Gautam criticized those standing by the administration. “To those who go to great lengths to protect Sangroula’s power — where is your conscience?” she wrote.
Sangroula has denied the allegations, calling them a smear campaign. Initially, KSL remained silent, but as public pressure mounted, the institution responded with official statements on March 11 and 12, denying the allegations.
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The school dismissed the allegations as baseless and criticized the way the issue had been portrayed. It claimed that misinformation on social media and certain media outlets had unfairly tarnished its image and impacted students and faculty morale.
“Our attention has been drawn to the unreasonable news dissemination against this institution through social media and some media outlets. We are saddened that social media users are forming opinions based on subjective allegations made by an individual, without verifying any basis or factual reason. This has not only harmed the morale and self-respect of our teachers, students, and the college community but has also damaged the institution’s reputation,” the statement read.
On the claims that Gautam’s complaint had been ignored, KSL stated that steps had been taken to review the matter. “In response to the allegation that the student’s complaint was disregarded, the administration received the application on December 5, 2024, and decided to present it as an agenda item to the Internal Complaints and Grievances Committee. On December 8, the committee acknowledged the application and initiated the necessary study process. The investigation and evidence collection are currently underway,” the statement added.
Here's the full post Gautam shared:
Dear Kathmandu School of Law,
It has been months since I submitted an application urging you to investigate Yubaraj Sangroula, the Executive Director's actions. Months since I called attention to the way this institution is run, where sexual harassment cases go unnoticed, unresolved, and unspoken. And yet, your silence remains.
But silence does not erase the truth.
And the truth is you are rotting from inside out.
Dear KSL, why do you work so hard to silence victims instead of protecting them?
How is it that my parents received a call within days of me speaking the truth on my Instagram, yet the families of harassers never hear from you? How do you move so quickly to threaten those who speak out but let predators roam freely in your halls?
Your refusal to listen does not change reality. Your failure to address these issues does not erase them.
Dear KSL, you are not just complicit, you are an enabler. The Executive Director, Yubaraj Sangroula, himself carries predatory energy. He speaks to students inappropriately, makes unsolicited sexual comments, and wields his power in ways that should have no place in an institution of learning.
My only one-on-one conversation with him? He used it to dictate my personal choices and told me not to sleep with men, to just get married and stay away from relationships because "all a boyfriend would want is sex." Who asked you? Who gave you the right to make those comments?
He constantly makes degrading remarks about women's bodies. He speculates about the size of their future children as if they were livestock. There have been numerous accusations of sexual harassment against him. He has made students give him back massages. He has used his position as Executive Director and owner of this college to ensure that he gets the physical attention he demands.
What kind of law school administrator finds this appropriate? What kind of institution allows this to happen?
And what happens when students speak up? They are threatened and silenced. Students who raise their voices face retaliation. Intimidation, Suspensions, Your professors openly harass and abuse students. They deny the existence of marital rape. Sangroula threatens to expel students who support LGBTOIA+ rights. He makes degrading, humiliating, disgusting remarks. He once claimed that all of our mothers should have miscarried us simply because we failed to answer a question. How do you let such a ghatiya man dictate your institution?
To those teachers who have supported us and who have shown integrity and decency, you have my deepest respect and gratitude. But to the rest of you, the ones who bend over backwards to protect Sangroula's power—Where is your conscience? Can you not see that you are being brainwashed? Do you not realize you are complicit in his misogynistic, homophobic, authoritarian system? How do you justify following him down this path?
Dear KSL, you have failed as an institution. You told me to apply instead of posting online. Well, I did. On 12th December 2024 (edited on her post as 5th). I will attach it with this post because I'm not sure if it ever reached the board.
You think fear will keep us quiet. You think threats will make us step back. But I am not afraid now and never will be. You can fail me if you want, but you can't silence me. You can try every dirty trick in the book. I know why I studied law, and it was not for a degree, or a grade, or a title. It was to fight against injustice. And right now, that fight is against you.
This fight is not over.
Here is the statement released by the institution
