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A Dalit research scholar at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University (TEMU) has accused an Assistant Professor of caste-based discrimination and academic sabotage. The scholar, Anagha Sasi, also alleged that he once told her she got admission because of her Scheduled Caste status. The faculty, Arun Babu V, has denied the allegations and said he was not her formal research supervisor.
Anagha has been on a public protest at the university, based in Tirur, since August 15 to against caste bias and obstruction of her career, allegedly by her guide and the university authorities.
Speaking to TNM over phone on August 16, Anagha alleged that Arun Babu intentionally hindered her from conducting research.
"It's been more than two years since I started studying here, yet I have not been allowed to use the lab, my guide has not yet corrected my synopsis, and my doctoral committee has not been constituted. The only tasks assigned to me have been cleaning the lab and other work unrelated to my research," alleges Anagha.
Anagha also alleged that Arun Babu verbally abused her several times, making derogatory comments related to her caste.
Anagha, who holds an MSc in Environmental Science and Management, enrolled for the doctoral programme at the School of Environmental Science in March 2024 for research on microplastics under the guidance of Assistant Professor Arun Babu from the School of Environmental Studies.
She had tried to pursue a PhD at MG University earlier but was not able to continue. After joining Malayalam University, she alleges that her guide assigned her other tasks, including cleaning.
“Since the time I joined, my guide and other faculty have asked me to clean the lab and classrooms,” Anagha alleged..
After a few months, Anagha faced some health issues and she informed Arun Babu that she could not do the cleaning work. “I asked him to request the registrar for a lab assistant. But he refused,” she alleged.
Angha also alleged the department refused to give her a chair in the PhD student’s cabin. “When all other students are sitting in the cabin, I need to sit in the hall outside the cabin,” she said. Anagha said the other three students who joined the PhD along with her did not face similar issues from the guide or from other faculty members.
“Once, in the class room, while explaining how to get a job as an assistant professor, he asked the caste of all students. Our caste is in the application; I don’t know why he is again asking for it,” she alleged.
Anagha was awarded the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) Fellowship in Environmental Sciences following the written examination held in 2024. “Arun Babu used to say, I got the fellowship only because I am from the SC community. He even threatened me by saying he would halt the fellowship,” she alleged. Anagha said she faced similar harassment when she approached him for a course certificate
She also alleges that more than two years after joining, her department did not give her lab access. “I applied multiple times but they didn’t allow me to use the lab,” she said.
“Arun Babu even told me that I would have to pay compensation after he cancelled my fellowship. I do not come from a financially secure family, so all of this caused me significant mental distress, and I complied with everything out of fear,” she said.
“I experienced mental health issues, was diagnosed with severe depression and even had suicidal thoughts,” she said.
She said she filed multiple complaints with the university in August 2025, but the grievances were not resolved
In August 2025 she filed a complaint to Higher Education Minister R Bindu but allegedly didn’t receive any response. “For the past one and a half years, I have been subjected to continuous obstruction, harassment, and academic neglect by my research guide,” her complaint to R Bindu said.
Later in 2026, she filed a complaint with the Chief Minister’s office and an officer was appointed to inquire into this issue.
Professor denies allegations
Speaking to TNM, Arun Babu denied accusations of caste-based discrimination and academic sabotage. “These are all false allegations; I never made any caste-based discrimination. The allegation regarding the lab is also false. There was no restriction in the lab, and I never forced her to clean any lab or class,” he told TNM.
He also dismissed the allegation that he did not correct the synopsis and said that he is not her formal research supervisor and only provided a willingness certificate for her fellowship. “I corrected her synopsis. According to the university procedures, the research guide will be allocated only after the approval by the doctoral committee. I am not even a temporary guide. She can discuss her research work with any teacher, and then, if they come to a mutual agreement, they can proceed further. I'm a professor here. So she discussed some work with me. I gave my suggestions and corrections to her,” he added.
A joining report issued by the Registrar-in-Charge on July 25, 2024, shows Anagha is under the guideship of Arun Babu.
Arun also said Anagha missed two doctoral committee meetings because she failed to submit her final synopsis, despite extensions.
“The first topic committee was formed on June 30, 2025; at that time, only two students submitted their final synopsis. In August another committee was formed but she failed to submit her final synopsis,” Arun Babu said.
He also claimed that an SC/ST cell in the university conducted an inquiry and the interim report dismissed Angha’s claim.
Anagha alleged that the SC/ST cell didn't conduct any inquiry; however, they published an inquiry report after she publicly raised her allegation.
She also dismissed Arun Babu's claim that she failed to submit her final synopsis, stating, "My synopsis was corrected by Dr Ponnankurian of MG University, where I had enrolled first. If any further corrections are needed, he should have informed me. However, he didn't provide any feedback after I requested it."
