Latest news with #SanDiegoVille
NDTV
6 days ago
- NDTV
Indian-Origin Professor Caught In Sting Operation While Trying To Meet A 14-Year-Old Boy
An Indian-origin associate professor at the University of California, San Diego, is facing scrutiny after a viral video showed him being confronted in an alleged online child predator sting. According to San Diego Ville, the sting was conducted by the California-based group People vs. Predators. Widely shared social media footage shows activists confronting Nisarg Jaydeep Shah at a supermarket, where he allegedly intended to meet a 14-year-old boy. In the video, activist Tim Johnson, who claims to have exposed over 500 suspected predators, confronted Mr Shah about explicit conversations allegedly held on Grindr. Screenshots shared by the activist purportedly show Mr Shah claiming to be 28 and engaging in sexually explicit chats, even after the decoy mentioned being "bout to be 15." During the confrontation, Nisarg Shah repeatedly expressed remorse, saying he feels "horrible, the worst I've ever felt" and calling his actions "abhorrent." In extended footage outside the store, Mr Shah admitted to bringing personal lubricant and a douche, claiming they were to help the person he believed he was meeting "get ready" and "prep." He repeatedly said, "I f**ked up," and suggested, "I need to get help or something, maybe." A photo reportedly showed Mr Shah in handcuffs, though SanDiegoVille stated he was only briefly detained and released at the scene. San Diego Police have confirmed an ongoing investigation. SDPD Lt Travis Easter said, "We are aware of the incident and our ICAC unit is actively investigating it. There have not been any charges made yet." "Our ICAC unit will typically not work with civilians acting as undercover operatives and does not condone such activities because the training involved in conducting these investigations consists of hours of intense legal training," Mr Easter was quoted as saying by SanDiegoVille. Nisarg Shah, a UC San Diego associate professor specialising in immunoengineering and nanoscale materials, holds a Ph.D. from MIT and a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard. He teaches and leads a research lab at UCSD. In response to the allegations against its faculty member, UC San Diego committed to fully cooperating with authorities, emphasising its dedication to campus safety and a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct.
India Today
6 days ago
- India Today
Indian-origin professor caught in child-sex sting in San Diego
An Indian-origin associate professor at the University of California San Diego has come under scrutiny after a viral video showed him being confronted in an alleged online child predator sting. In the footage, Nisarg Shah is accused of attempting to meet someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy for alleged sexual activity. San Diego Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway. However, Shah has denied all allegations. He was briefly detained during the confrontation but was released at the associate professor was targeted in a vigilante sting coordinated by online activists. The video of the confrontation, which occurred last Saturday, August 2, inside Pavilions' grocery store in San Diego's Hillcrest community, was first published by a group "People v Preds", according to a local digital media outlet, SanDiegoVille. People vs Preds (People vs Predators) is a US-based vigilante group known for conducting online sting operations to expose alleged child the alleged video, activist Tim Johnson, who claimed to have exposed more than 500 suspected predators, confronted Shah over alleged explicit conversations reportedly conducted on the Grindr dating provided by the activists show Shah identifying himself as a the confrontation, Shah repeatedly expressed regret for his actions. "I feel horrible, the worst I've ever felt," he could be heard in the called his conduct "abhorrent" and admitted to bringing personal lubricant and a douche, claiming it was to help the person "get ready" and "prep". He adds, "I need to maybe get help or something."Two patrol vehicles from the San Diego Police Department arrived at the scene during the encounter. In the video, an SDPD officer is heard telling the activists that Shah would not be taken into custody at that moment, explaining that an arrest was not permitted under the the officer noted that Shah's phone would be confiscated, and the evidence would be turned over to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.A photo appears to show Shah in handcuffs, but he was reportedly released at the scene, SanDiegoVille ISSUE STATEMENT OVER ALLEGATIONS AGAINST NISARG SHAHSan Diego Police Department (SDPD) said they are investigating the matter, according to the Lt Travis Easter said, "We are aware of the incident and our ICAC unit is actively investigating it. There have not been any charges made yet.""Our ICAC unit will typically not work with civilians acting as undercover operatives and does not condone such activities because the training involved in conducting these investigations consists of hours of intense legal training," Easter was quoted as saying by officer said that untrained civilians risk harm to themselves and others when conducting vigilante stings."Without that training, well-meaning civilians not only endanger themselves, but also the person they are contacting, as well as the general public," Easter WILL COOPERATE WITH LAW AGENCIES DURING PROBE: UC SAN DIEGOReacting to the allegations against its faculty member, the University of California San Diego pledged full cooperation with authorities, reaffirming its commitment to campus safety and zero tolerance for sexual misconduct."We have been made aware of the allegations against Nisarg J Shah. We will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies as needed during any investigation. The health, well-being and safety of our campus community members is our top priority," the varsity said, according to the San Diego, California-based news portal."All allegations of sexual harassment and sexual violence are taken very seriously. Anyone experiencing harassment, discrimination, sexual and relationship violence or stalking is encouraged to reach out to UC San Diego's Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination at ophd@ or it SHAH REJECTED THE ALLEGATIONSResponding to the query posted by SanDiegoVille, Shah said these were "wrongful allegations".advertisement"These are wrongful allegations and while I would have been willing to share my account, my attorney will not let me do so, but he would be happy to speak with you," SanDiegoVille quoted him as Shah is a well-regarded scholar with expertise in immunoengineering and the development of nanoscale is an associate professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at UC San obtained his PhD in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to the University of California San Diego's was a postdoctoral fellow at the Wyss Institute and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, where he received the Cancer Research Institute's Irvington postdoctoral fellowship to develop biomaterials to enhance T-cell received his BSc degree in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where his research focused on developing nanoparticle-based delivery systems for cancer month, a Delta Air Lines pilot of Indian origin was taken into custody at San Francisco International Airport in connection with alleged child sex crimes, according to an official statement from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's accused, 34-year-old Rustom Bhagwagar of Florida, was arrested directly from the aircraft he was co-piloting.- Ends
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Time of India
'I feel horrible': UCSD professor Nisarg Shah confronted over alleged child predator activity; phone seized, not arrested
Nisarg Shah (Screengrab from video posted by @CollinRugg on X) A University of California San Diego associate professor is under investigation after being confronted on video in an alleged online child predator sting. The video, widely circulated on social media, shows Nisarg Shah being accused of attempting to meet someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy for sex. Shah, who teaches in the Aiiso Yufeng Li family department of chemical and nano engineering at UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering, was confronted on Saturday, inside a Pavilions grocery store in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood. The sting was coordinated by online activists using Instagram handles @timjohnson.458 and @vans_against_predators, with the video watermarked by the group "People v Preds,' reported San Diego Ville. — CollinRugg (@CollinRugg) Activist Tim Johnson, who claims to have exposed more than 500 suspected predators, confronted Shah over sexually explicit messages allegedly exchanged on the dating app Grindr. Screenshots shared by the group show Shah identifying himself as 28 years old and continuing to chat after the decoy disclosed they were 'bout to be 15.' During the encounter, Shah expresses deep remorse. 'I feel horrible, the worst I've ever felt,' he says. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Woman sells ring given by ex, then jeweler tells her 'This can't be true' Daily Sport X Undo He describes his conduct as 'abhorrent' and admits to bringing personal lubricant and a douche, claiming it was to help the person 'get ready' and 'prep.' He adds, 'I fucked up. I need to maybe get help or something.' Two San Diego Police Department patrol cars arrived during the confrontation. An officer is seen in the video informing the activists that Shah would not be arrested at the time, stating he was 'not allowed to arrest him' under the circumstances. Shah's phone was seized, and evidence from the sting was turned over to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Although a photo shows Shah in handcuffs, he was reportedly released at the scene. When contacted by San Diego Ville, Shah responded through his attorney, 'These are wrongful allegations and while I would have been willing to share my account, my attorney will not let me do so but he would be happy to speak with you.' In response to inquiries, SDPD Lt Travis Easter issued a statement, saying, 'We are aware of the incident and our ICAC unit is actively investigating it. There have not been any charges made as of yet. UC San Diego also released a statement, 'We have been made aware of the allegations against Nisarg J Shah. We will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies as needed during any investigation. The health, well-being and safety of our campus community members is our top priority. All allegations of sexual harassment and sexual violence are taken very seriously.' Shah is a specialist in immunoengineering and nanoscale materials. He earned his PhD from MIT and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University before joining UC San Diego, where he currently leads a research lab and teaches. The incident has sparked widespread backlash online, with many calling on the university to investigate and take disciplinary action.
