Bengaluru, March 28: Bengaluru police registered an FIR against a professor from a private university on Saturday. The professor allegedly referred to a Muslim student as a “terrorist” during a classroom session.
The Girinagar police filed the case under sections 299 (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code.
The accused has been identified as Professor Murali Dhar Deshpande, who works at PES University in the city. Following widespread outrage after a video of the incident went viral on social media, he was suspended the same day.
Reports indicate that the incident occurred on March 24 at the university campus located on Banshankari Ring Road. The case came to light after a student recorded the event, which quickly gained traction online.
Deshpande is accused of targeting a Muslim student named Affan, calling him a terrorist at least 13 times in front of approximately 60 students during a lecture. The police took cognizance of the matter on their own.
Due to the allegations of outraging religious feelings and the potential for communal disharmony, police officials called for legal action.
Comments made by the professor included statements like, “The Iran war happened because of people like you,” “Trump will take you away,” and “You are foolish; you will go to hell.” According to students, these remarks created a hostile and humiliating atmosphere in the classroom.
The viral video shows the professor targeting the student and making offensive comments during class. The incident has faced severe criticism, with many labeling it as an example of religious discrimination and hate speech in an academic setting.
In a related development, there are allegations that CCTV footage from the classroom was deleted, raising concerns about accountability and transparency.
Additionally, some students who spoke in support of the victim were suspended, with the official reason cited as “talking during class.”
Sources indicate that the professor later issued a written apology to the college administration but did not directly apologize to the student. It has been reported that the head of the department has apologized on his behalf. There are also claims that the student faced indirect pressure.
Student groups, including the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), have filed complaints, describing the incident as an example of “religious hate speech” and demanding strict action. Following the protests, the university administration suspended the professor and stated that an internal investigation is underway.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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