Kathmandu— British Prime Minister Andy Burnham responded to the death of Jason Arday, a former Cambridge University professor accused of academic misconduct, calling for a “moment of reflection” on how the situation unfolded. Arday, 41, was found dead in south London on Friday after facing intense scrutiny regarding his credentials and achievements. Police have stated that his death is not considered suspicious but described it as unexpected. Burnham’s statement came amid growing outrage over the media's coverage of the allegations and accusations of racism surrounding the treatment of Arday.

Scrutiny and Allegations

Arday’s academic record first came under scrutiny last month, with reports alleging plagiarism in his doctoral thesis and inaccuracies regarding his claimed achievements. He was also accused of misrepresenting aspects of his childhood experiences. These allegations led to his resignation from his post at Cambridge University on August 5th. NewsCord analysis revealed that at least 188 articles about Arday were published within a nine-day period, indicating significant media attention to the scandal.

Outcry and Accusations of Bias

Arday’s death has sparked widespread condemnation, with many arguing that he was subjected to unfair treatment fueled by racism. Gareth Dale, from Brunel University, described the situation as a “lynching,” stating that Arday suffered from mental illness and deserved compassion instead of relentless pursuit by the media and far-right activists. He suggested that while plagiarism may have occurred, it wasn't disproportionately different than instances involving white professors, and questioned why the media engaged in what he called a ‘pile-on’.

University and Official Responses

Cambridge University Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice expressed her condolences to Arday’s family and colleagues, acknowledging the loss felt by those who worked with him in the Faculty of Education and Jesus College. Tens of thousands of complaints regarding press coverage of the case have been filed with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), highlighting public concern over the handling of the story. Burnham echoed calls for reflection, urging against rushing to judgment.

The circumstances surrounding Arday’s death remain under review as authorities investigate the allegations and the intense media scrutiny he faced in his final days.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.