From Palak Paneer To Payout: Indian PhD Scholars Win $200,000 Settlement In US University Discrimination Case
From Palak Paneer To Payout: Indian PhD Scholars Win $200,000 Settlement In US University Discrimination Case
Colorado, January 14, 2026: An Indian doctoral student and his partner have secured a $200,000 settlement from the University of Colorado Boulder following a dispute that began with objections raised over the smell of Indian food in a shared campus microwave.
The case dates back to September 2023, when Aditya Prakash, a PhD scholar in anthropology, was reheating palak paneer on campus. A staff member reportedly objected to the aroma and asked him not to use the microwave, an incident Prakash described as humiliating and discriminatory.
Following the episode, Prakash and his partner Urmi Bhattacheryya, also a PhD candidate at the university, alleged that they were subjected to repeated scrutiny, complaints, and professional setbacks. Prakash claimed he was called into multiple meetings and accused of creating an unsafe environment, while Bhattacheryya said she lost her teaching assistant position and later faced accusations after students brought Indian food to campus.
In May 2025, the couple filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. The university settled the matter in September 2025, agreeing to pay $200,000 and award both scholars Master’s degrees, while barring future enrolment or employment. The university denied any wrongdoing, stating it followed established procedures.
The couple has since returned to India, saying the settlement sends a strong message against cultural and food-based discrimination in academic spaces.
