Dr. Himanshu Patel, a 26‑year veteran of Nirma University, seized a student’s collar in full view of the auditorium during the annual Technofora 2026 fest in Gujarat. The altercation began when the student interrupted a speech with a line from a popular film, prompting Patel to demand the student step forward and, without warning, clamp his arm around the student’s collar.
Rajat Sood, a stand‑up comedian performing at the same event, captured the moment on his phone and posted a clip to Instagram. In the video, Sood jokes that he always seems to find himself at the center of drama, adding, "I've realized that I'm always just two steps away from a crime patrol episode."
The clip has sparked a heated debate online. Some commentators defend Patel’s actions as a necessary defense of institutional dignity, while others argue that the professor’s physical response was unacceptable and demand disciplinary action.
In response, Nirma University’s administration released a statement saying it would conduct a formal inquiry into the incident. The investigation will be completed by the end of June, and the university will consider appropriate disciplinary measures if the faculty member’s conduct is found to violate university policy.