Kathmandu— Jason Arday, a former University of Cambridge professor and once the institution’s youngest-ever Black professor, was discovered unresponsive at his south London residence on Friday afternoon, police reported. His death is not being treated as suspicious. The 41-year-old resigned from his position earlier this week following allegations that he plagiarized portions of his 2015 PhD dissertation and questions surrounding his academic history. Arday had denied the plagiarism claims.

Plagiarism Allegations and Resignation

Arday’s resignation came just two days after Cambridge announced an investigation into his qualifications and honorary appointments, bringing the controversy to wider public attention. The allegations initially surfaced last month when former Cambridge researcher Nathan Cofnas accused Arday of copying significant parts of his dissertation from a 2009 thesis by Paula Zwozdiak-Myers. Cofnas claimed that “many passages are lifted with minimal editing,” even retaining errors from the original source, and labeled Arday a “plagiarist and fabulist.”

Disputed Claims and Police Involvement

A detailed investigation by The Guardian revealed discrepancies in several of Arday’s claims regarding his academic positions and achievements. Additionally, police records contradicted his account of an incident involving alleged racial abuse. Prior to the public allegations, Arday reportedly contacted police about a journalist investigating the plagiarism accusations, prompting a request that the reporter cease contact due to concerns for Arday's mental health, according to Jack Grove of Times Higher Education.

Previous Investigation and Context

Liverpool John Moores University previously conducted its own investigation into the plagiarism allegations but did not uphold them. The case occurred against a backdrop of ongoing scrutiny of UK policing practices, including accusations of “two-tier” policing – highlighted by recent controversies such as the arrest of Henry Nowak after being stabbed, where officers initially focused on the victim rather than the attacker.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Arday’s death, but have stated it is not considered suspicious at this time.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.