Kathmandu— British academic Jason Arday, 41, a former University of Cambridge professor and fellow of Jesus College, was discovered unresponsive at a south London address on Friday, according to reports from British media citing authorities. The death comes less than two weeks after Arday resigned from his position following allegations that he plagiarized portions of his doctoral thesis and questions about his academic work and personal life. He had previously made history as the youngest Black professor appointed by the university in 2023, but admitted to making mistakes while defending himself against accusations of dishonesty.

Resignation and Investigation

Arday resigned from his post on November 1st, sparking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his appointment. The University of Cambridge announced last week that it would continue its inquiry despite his resignation. Arday had publicly acknowledged errors but strongly refuted claims he was intentionally deceitful, stating he was being wrongly “portrayed to be a liar and a fantasist and an academic fraud.”

Scrutiny of Academic Work

The allegations centered on potential plagiarism within Arday’s doctoral thesis, prompting investigative articles into his academic record and personal background. While his recently released memoir, “Great and Unfortunate Things,” also faced scrutiny, the British publisher maintained that no claims of plagiarism had been made regarding the book itself. The memoir details Arday's experiences with autism during childhood and his subsequent achievements.

Authorities have not yet released further details surrounding Arday’s death, and the investigation into the allegations remains ongoing.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.