A major controversy has erupted at PES University after a professor allegedly made derogatory and communal remarks against a Muslim student during a classroom session, sparking widespread outrage.

The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday when a student, identified as Affan, sought permission to leave the class briefly to meet someone.

According to eyewitness accounts and a video recorded inside the classroom, the professor, identified as Dr Muralidhar Deshpande, reacted aggressively and allegedly referred to the student as a “terrorist” in front of others.

In the video, the professor is heard shouting, “Sharm nahi aati, tumko (Do you feel no shame),” while addressing the student. He then adds, “I thought I will be very calm today,” before allegedly repeating the word “terrorist” amid background noise.

The professor is further accused of making a series of offensive remarks, including blaming “people like him” for the Iran war, saying that Donald Trump would “come and take him away,” and telling the student he would “go to hell.”

The incident was captured on video by another student and has since circulated widely, triggering strong reactions.

Following the backlash, the university placed the professor under suspension pending an internal inquiry. The action came three days after the alleged incident.

In an official communication, the university stated that a student complaint had been received and that the professor was being suspended with immediate effect pending a detailed investigation.

Meanwhile, some students have alleged that three individuals who supported the affected student were also suspended, reportedly for unrelated reasons.

The Vice Chancellor said the university provides training to faculty members on handling classroom situations but acknowledged that there can be instances of indiscipline where individuals may overreact. He also noted that the professor served as an adjunct faculty member and described his conduct as surprising.

The Vice Chancellor further stated that while a video of the incident is in circulation, additional context may be involved, and a full assessment is yet to be completed.

Emphasising the institution’s record, he said such an incident had never occurred in its history and assured that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken based on the findings of the inquiry.

The matter has also drawn political attention, with National Student Union of India filing a police complaint and demanding strict action along with a public apology from the professor.