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No arrest or suspension
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Predator-catching group releases alleged sex chat messages of UCSD professor; university under fire for inaction
People v Preds, a predator-catching activist group, has released chat transcripts allegedly involving Indian-origin UC San Diego associate professor Nisarg Jaydeep Shah and a decoy posing as a 14-year-old. The group confronted Shah at a grocery store, claiming he had arrived to meet the minor and purchase lubricant. In a video of the encounter, Shah admitted feeling “horrible” about his actions and said he “maybe” needed help, though the activist doubted his sincerity, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Detailed chat logs reveal graphic conversations, yet professor remains free and employed
Despite two patrol cars from the San Diego Police Department arriving at the scene, officers informed the activist that Shah could not be arrested based solely on the group’s claims, as they were not law enforcement. The police reportedly took his phone for examination and began investigating the alleged communication with the minor.
The chats, dated August 2, show the activist—posing as a 14-year-old—asking if Shah had previously engaged with someone of that age. Shah allegedly responded and later sent a photo before agreeing to meet. The confrontation occurred at a grocery store where the activist claimed Shah intended to buy lubricant for use with the minor.
Following police questioning, Shah denied all allegations and was released without charges. The University of California, San Diego faced criticism for not suspending him immediately. “We have been made aware of the allegations… The health, well-being, and safety of our campus community members is our top priority,” the university stated, adding that it would cooperate with law enforcement.
Shah is an associate professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at UC San Diego. He earned his PhD in chemical engineering from MIT, completed postdoctoral work at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute, and holds a BSc in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins University. His research has focused on biomaterials for T-cell immunity and nanoparticle delivery systems for cancer therapy.
