San Diego: Indian-Origin Professor Exposed in Undercover Child Sex Sting

An Indian-origin associate professor at the University of California San Diego, Nisarg Shah, has come under scrutiny in a supposed online child predator sting. In a video it shows that he confronted inside a San Diego grocery store on August 2, allegedly attempting to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy. Shah denies the allegations and was briefly detained but released at the scene. The San Diego Police Department has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing

The confrontation was organised by a vigilante group called People vs Preds, which is known for public sting operations. In the video, activist Tim Johnson who claims to have exposed hundreds of suspected predators accuses Shah based on screenshots of alleged explicit communications on the Grindr app. The screenshots show Shah identifying himself as a 28-year-old. During the confrontation he repeatedly expressed remorse, saying he felt “horrible” and called his actions “abhorrent.” Shah also admitted to bringing personal lubricant and a douche to the meetup. He remarked, “I need to maybe get help or something”.

Police Confirm No Arrest, Evidence Seized

San Diego police arrived on scene quickly, with two patrol vehicles recorded in the footage. An officer told the activists that Shah could not be arrested immediately due to legal limitations but his phone was confiscated and turned over to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force as evidence. A photo shows Shah in handcuffs, although officials report he was released from custody at the site.

Lieutenant Travis Easter of the SDPD stated that the ICAC is actively investigating the case, though no formal charges have been filed yet. He also warned against citizen-led undercover operations, saying: civilian vigilante stings pose risks both to the civilians and the people they target, as ICAC investigators undergo specialized legal training before handling such cases.

UCSD Pledges Full Cooperation; Shah Denies Allegations

The University of California San Diego issued a formal statement acknowledging the allegations and pledging full cooperation with law enforcement agencies. UCSD emphasized its commitment to campus safety and a zero-tolerance policy for any form of sexual misconduct. They urged anyone facing harassment or violence to reach out to their Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. Shah, through his attorney, denied the allegations describing them as "wrongful." While expressing willingness to share his version, he stated that his legal counsel advised against discussing the matter publicly at this time

Academic Profile Highlighted

Prof. Shah is a recognised scholar in immunoengineering and nanomaterials science. He serves as an associate professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical & Nano Engineering at UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering. He earned his doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT, followed by postdoctoral work at Harvard’s Wyss Institute focusing on biomaterials to enhance T‑cell immunity. Shah completed his B.Sc. in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where he researched nanoparticle systems for cancer therapy.