Bhubaneswar: A day after a third-year nursing student of a city-based private medical institute jumped from the roof of her three-storey hostel on Monday allegedly after the college authorities did not reportedly act on her complaint of being molested by a canteen staff member, police arrested the molest accused.

Police said preliminary investigations had revealed Laxman Bal, 23, had allegedly molested the woman on March 31.

"The woman had reached the mess before meals were served and the accused molested her when she was alone. The accused has confessed to his crime. He has been forwarded to court," said a police official, adding he had been arrested under several sections of the IPC including sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 354-A (sexual harassment).

The arrest has raised questions about the claim of the institute authorities that the 21-year-old victim took the drastic step because she had been suffering from psychosis. The institute authorities had also claimed that the student had taken the step moments after she had submitted an undertaking to abstain from abnormal behaviour.

The institute authorities on Tuesday took a U-turn and alleged that the victim had not given any written complaint.

"We asked her to give in writing on the incident and lodge a formal complaint, but she never did it. She has been making the allegation verbally," claimed the principal of the institute.

The victim's sister on Tuesday demanded the strictest action against the institute authorities.

"If she was not mentally stable, how could she clear the examination to reach third year? The institute authorities are trying to defend themselves with absurd explanations," she said.