PES University reacts to questions over prof calling Muslim student 'terrorist' during class
Bengaluru: PES University has responded after questions were raised over a viral video that allegedly shows a professor calling a Muslim student a “terrorist” during a class.
In a reply to a detailed email sent by Vartha Bharati, the university said action has already been taken in the matter.
“Action has been taken. Concerned faculty has suspended pending enquiry. The action taken in this matter has been further confirmed by the student to the concerned stakeholders,” Jawahar Doreswamy, the Chancellor of the University said in the response.
The university, however, did not address several specific queries, including details about the incident, the class in which it took place, among others.
A video from a classroom has been widely circulating on social media, where a professor identified as Dr. Muralidhar Deshpande is allegedly heard calling a Muslim student a “terrorist” multiple times. Claims online suggest that the remark was repeated 13 times during the session.
Earlier, Vartha Bharati had accessed a suspension order issued by the university, which stated, “A case of student complaint has been received. Pending a detailed enquiry into the matter, you are kept under suspension with immediate effect.” The order, signed by the Vice Chancellor, did not mention the nature of the complaint.
Mohammed Haiyan, PR Secretary of Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), had told Vartha Bharati that the incident took place at the Electronic City campus of the university. He had condemned the incident and said they are demanding registration of an FIR against the professor.
He also stated that the NSUI has registered an NCR with the local police, but an FIR is yet to be filed in the case.
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FIR registered against Prof Muralidhar Deshpande who called Muslim student terrorist during class
Bengaluru: The Girinagar police in Bengaluru on Saturday afternoon registered a suo motu FIR against a professor of PES University after a video of an alleged classroom incident went viral on social media.
According to the FIR, the case has been registered under Sections 299 and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Section 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, punishes intentional insults designed to provoke a breach of peace. It covers verbal, written, or gestural insults that degrade dignity and are likely to cause a person to break the law or commit violence.
Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, criminalizes deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or beliefs.
The complaint in the FIR has been filed by a police officer attached to Girinagar Police Station. The officer stated that while gathering information, he came across a post on the social media platform X from an account named “The Muslim”.
The post claimed that at PES University in Bengaluru, a professor identified as Dr. Muralidhar Deshpande allegedly referred to a Muslim student, Affan, as a “terrorist” at least 13 times during a class and made several other remarks in front of around 60 students.
The FIR also records the additional claims mentioned in the post, including statements allegedly made by the professor and concerns about deletion of CCTV footage.
The accused has been named as Professor Muralidhar Deshpande, while the student mentioned in the complaint is identified as Affan.
The police have noted that the alleged act could hurt religious sentiments and has the potential to disturb communal harmony, which prompted the registration of the case.
The FIR clearly mentions that the case has been registered suo motu by the police, meaning no formal complaint from the victim was required at this stage.
