PES University Suspends Muralidhar Deshpande Amid Viral 'Terrorist' Insult Allegations

Key Takeaways

• PES University suspended adjunct faculty member Muralidhar Deshpande following a viral video of classroom misconduct.
• The video shows the professor allegedly calling a minority student a terrorist and insulting them multiple times.
• Chancellor Jawahar Doreswamy confirmed the suspension while an internal disciplinary committee verifies the footage.
• Police are currently waiting for the institution to file a formal complaint before initiating legal action.

Bengaluru's PES University suspended a faculty member on Friday after a video surfaced showing him allegedly insulting a minority student during a lecture. The incident, which took place on Thursday involving Muralidhar Deshpande, prompted immediate administrative action after the footage went viral on social media.

The confrontation was captured on camera and widely shared, depicting the adjunct faculty member reacting aggressively to what he perceived as a disturbance. According to accounts and the recording, Deshpande called the student a "terrorist" thirteen times and questioned the student's shame. The professor shouted, "The moment the class is going on, you come and disturb it. Do you feel no shame? Useless fellow, terrorist," while repeating the accusation throughout the heated exchange. He also questioned the student's diet and behavior, asking, "Kya kha ke aate ho?" before resuming his tirade.

Jawahar Doreswamy, the chancellor of PES University, addressed the situation immediately, stating that the university is verifying the authenticity of the video. "All our classrooms lectures are recorded. We have asked our technical team to check the authenticity of the video," Doreswamy explained. He emphasized that the institution is verifying the truth in the matter before proceeding with any permanent disciplinary measures, but the immediate suspension has been enacted. "The disciplinary committee will look through the evidence and proceedings have to be initiated against the faculty," he stated. The chancellor added that such an incident has "never happened in the history of the institution," describing the behavior as "100% unacceptable" given that the faculty member holds a PhD.

The university highlighted that the suspended individual is not a full-time faculty member but an adjunct faculty member. Doreswamy noted that this distinction is significant for the institution's protocols. "We also have a policy that all faculty members will be trained in the beginning of the year on how to deal with situations inside the classrooms," he said. He acknowledged that while indiscipline in classrooms can lead to overreactions, this specific case required a review of the training protocols for adjunct faculty. "In this particular case, this faculty member is not full time faculty member, he is an adjunct faculty," Doreswamy clarified, promising that they are looking at their protocol on what message is being given to adjunct faculty members and that such members will be included in future trainings.

The incident has sparked a debate on campus and social media, with a poll asking whether the faculty's actions were justified. While the university assured that they do not want to suppress anything and will take necessary action, legal proceedings are currently on hold. No police complaint has been filed yet. A senior police officer told reporters that after the video went viral, authorities approached college authorities and students, asking them to file a police complaint so that legal action can be taken. "However, the management asked us to wait for some time," the officer said. "They said after holding an internal departmental enquiry, they have placed the professor under suspension. They told us that they will discuss before filing the police complaint."

University Action Shapes Future Faculty Conduct Protocols

The suspension of Muralidhar Deshpande marks a critical moment for PES University as it navigates the balance between maintaining academic order and addressing severe verbal misconduct. The administration's decision to place the adjunct faculty member on suspension pending an internal inquiry suggests a zero-tolerance policy towards such behavior. Given the chancellor's assurance that disciplinary proceedings will be initiated and that training protocols for adjunct staff will be revised, the institution appears poised to implement stricter oversight on non-permanent faculty. The delay in filing a police complaint indicates that the university intends to resolve the matter internally first, likely to establish a formal record of the investigation before involving law enforcement. This approach may set a precedent for how educational institutions in the region handle viral incidents involving faculty, prioritizing internal accountability while ensuring due process is followed. The outcome of the disciplinary committee's review could influence future hiring and training standards for adjunct professors, ensuring that all educational staff are better equipped to manage classroom dynamics without resorting to aggressive or discriminatory language.