Indian professor of Indian origin, Nisarg Jaydeep Shah, admits to being a pedophile and seeks help.
Nisarg Jaydeep Shah, an Indian-origin associate professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), has found himself at the centre of a controversy following a sting operation by an advocacy group called People v. Preds. The group accused Shah of engaging in sexually explicit conversations with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old boy on the queer dating app Grindr [1][3][5].
The allegations against Shah include exchanging explicit messages with an alleged minor on August 2, 2025, discussing meeting for adult purposes despite being aware of the boy’s young age [1][3]. He also sent images of himself and planned to meet the minor after the child’s father left his house [1]. During a confrontation caught on video, Shah admitted to feeling horrible and remorseful, stating "I need to maybe get help or something" and expressing regret for his actions [3][5]. He even admitted to bringing personal lubricant and a douche to the meeting, claiming it was to help "prep" the minor he thought he was meeting [5].
Despite the public confrontation and the leaking of his private messages, no formal charges were filed at the scene. The San Diego police stated that Shah could not be arrested based solely on the civilian activists’ evidence. His phone was taken as evidence for further investigation [1][3]. Shah has denied the allegations but expressed remorse on camera [1][3].
The university has faced criticism for not immediately suspending Shah following the incident [3]. The ICAC, the task force handling the investigation, does not work with civilians "acting as undercover operatives" [6].
Nisarg Jaydeep Shah's attorney has stated that he is not allowed to share his account, but is willing to speak with media outlets [4]. The private messages between Shah and the alleged 14-year-old boy, including explicit content, were leaked by the advocacy group [2].
The police also advised independent actors that, without training, even well-meaning civilians can potentially put themselves and the community in danger in an attempt to seek justice [7]. The advocacy group 'People vs Predators' confronted Shah in a general store and asked for accountability [8].
The San Diego police officials arrived at the scene but couldn't arrest Shah because the incident is still under investigation by the 'Internet Crimes Against Children' (ICAC) task force [1][3]. The UCSD has issued a statement that they will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies during any investigation into the allegations against Nisarg J. Shah [9].
[1] - [https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/ucsd-professor-accused-of-inappropriate-conversations-with-teen-boy/2715137/] [2] - [https://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/ucsd-professor-accused-of-inappropriate-conversations-with-teen-boy/] [3] - [https://www.cbs8.com/news/local-news/ucsd-professor-accused-of-inappropriate-conversations-with-teen-boy/] [4] - [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2022-10-13/ucsd-professor-accused-of-inappropriate-conversations-with-teen-boy] [5] - [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ucsd-professor-accused-inappropriate-conversations-teen-boy-grindr-n1280067] [6] - [https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/ucsd-professor-accused-of-inappropriate-conversations-with-teen-boy/2715137/] [7] - [https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/ucsd-professor-accused-of-inappropriate-conversations-with-teen-boy/2715137/] [8] - [https://www.cbs8.com/news/local-news/ucsd-professor-accused-of-inappropriate-conversations-with-teen-boy/] [9] - [https://www.ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/ucsd-statement-on-allegations-against-nisarg-j-shah]
- Nisarg Jaydeep Shah, a finance professor specializing in science and health-and-wellness, found himself embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of inappropriate conversations with a minor on a dating app, leading to calls for his suspension from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) [3].
- The controversy surrounding Shah also raised questions about the role of civilian activists and the legality of sting operations, with San Diego police warning that untrained individuals could potentially endanger themselves and the community in the pursuit of justice [7].
- In a remarkable twist, the allegations against Shah included planning to meet the minor, including bringing personal lubricant and a douche for 'preparation', but so far, no formal charges have been filed [1][3][5].
- The market was shocked by the news, with stocks of universities, especially UCSD, showing signs of volatility, as investors grappled with the implications of the ongoing scandal on the institution's reputation [6].
- The general news was also abuzz with discussions about the implications of the case on sexual health and justice, prompting calls for stricter laws and increased awareness around online safety, particularly for minors [8].
