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Students have alleged that Afaq sent inappropriate messages and urged them to offer namaz, read the Quran and convert to Islam.
Protests were held at the Nagpur campus on October 17, with police facilitating talks between demonstrators and the administration as the university initiated an inquiry. (IMAGE: X)
Nagpur’s Symbiosis Law School this week formed a high-level committee to investigate allegations against faculty member Dr Ahmar Afaq, who has been accused of sending sexually explicit messages to female students and urging them to convert to Islam.
The matter reportedly came to light after a student showed the alleged messages to her father, who subsequently confronted the professor on campus. The father also approached the local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which took up the matter with the college administration and the Nagpur Police Commissioner.
Students have alleged that Afaq sent inappropriate messages and urged them to offer namaz, read the Quran and convert to Islam. The professor has been placed on leave and barred from visiting the campus or participating in academic activities pending the inquiry.
The university will also examine similar allegations reportedly linked to his previous employment at Symbiosis Law School in Hyderabad.
The controversy triggered protests at the Nagpur campus on October 17, with activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) demanding action against the professor.
Police facilitated discussions between the protesters and the university administration. The inquiry committee also held an open-house interaction attended by more than 100 students and assured them that the allegations would be investigated impartially.
Police said no FIR had been registered in connection with the allegations as of the latest reported update.
At A Glance
Symbiosis Law School in Nagpur formed a high-level committee to investigate allegations against faculty member Dr Ahmar Afaq.
The professor has been placed on leave and barred from campus pending the inquiry.
Protests were triggered at the Nagpur campus on October 17 by activists demanding action against the professor.
A similar case surfaced earlier in Maharashtra involving women employees at a Tata Consultancy Services unit in Nashik.
Meanwhile, students, alumni and parents have launched an online petition demanding a fair and transparent inquiry, measures to ensure student safety and preservation of relevant evidence.
The representation has also raised questions about the professional association and background of another faculty member, Saqib Rasool Bhat. No finding of wrongdoing against him has been established.
Similar Allegations In Nashik TCS Case
The controversy is reminiscent of another case that surfaced in Maharashtra earlier this year, when women employees at a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) unit in Nashik alleged sexual harassment and pressure to convert to Islam.
The case came to light in March and April 2026 after several women employees accused colleagues and supervisors of sexual harassment, exploitation and religious coercion, prompting Nashik Police to register nine FIRs and constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Among those accused was Nida Khan, an employee who allegedly encouraged a female colleague to follow Islamic religious practices. Investigators alleged that she provided the complainant with religious material and encouraged her to offer namaz.
Khan was arrested in May, while other accused faced allegations ranging from sexual harassment to sexual exploitation on the pretext of marriage.
On July 6, a Nashik court granted Khan bail, taking into account her pregnancy and the completion of the investigation. The court noted that the allegations against her would have to be examined during trial.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Dr Ahmar Afaq has been placed on leave and barred from visiting the campus or participating in academic activities pending an inquiry by a high-level committee formed at Symbiosis Law School in Nagpur.
Ask News18About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More
October 20, 2026, 10:15 IST
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