IB pays visit to Ashoka University

A visit by the Intelligence Bureau to Ashoka University has been reported. This transpired over inquiries pertaining to an article by Sabyasachi Das who has currently resigned from his position as a professor with the Ashoka University and is reportedly in Pune. 

His research paper that was still not peer reviewed, titled, “Democratic Backsliding in the World's Largest Democracy.” had caused a political storm over the last month. 

The paper supposedly “uses advanced econometric techniques to generate estimates of how many of the marginals seats in the 2019 general election that the BJP won might have been due to some form of 'manipulation." 

The Intelligence Bureau reportedly asked other professors in the department to have a discussion with them regarding the details of the research. The professors reportedly declined this request as this was not furnished to them by way of a written document. The Intelligence Bureau reportedly left the campus before foreshadowing the professors of a subsequent visit from their side. 

Ashoka University had earlier publicly distanced themselves from upholding the veracity of the research paper in question. 

The University's official X (formerly known as Twitter) handle posted, “Ashoka values research that is critically peer-reviewed and published in reputed journals. To the best of our knowledge, the paper in question has not yet completed a critical review process and has not been published in an academic journal. Social media activity or public activism by Ashoka faculty, students or staff in their individual capacity does not reflect the stand of the University.”