Pune’s Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, which has drawn criticism after former student Prem Birhade alleged caste discrimination for withholding a verification certificate, on Saturday said that his conduct as a student was “unsatisfactory”. In a statement posted on social media, college principal Nivedita Ekbote rejected claims of bias and said that the institute had earlier issued Mr. Birhade three recommendation letters and bona fide certificates.

A day earlier, The Hindu had reported about the allegations levelled by Mr. Birhade, a Dalit youth based in London, saying that a U.K.-based company had “asked my college if I had studied there. The college did not respond. Why? Because you don’t want us to get ahead in life. This is the struggle of me, my family, my community”.

In response to the principal’s statement, Mr. Birhade said he would file a defamation and harassment case against the college, reiterating his charge of caste discrimination.

“If you want us to hang a broom and a pot around our necks now, that is not going to happen,” he said in a video statement on Saturday.

Gajanan Ekbote, chairperson of the Progressive Education Society that runs the college and the principal’s father, dismissed the allegations as “false and baseless”.

“The earlier recommendation letters were provided by faculty members who have now retired. When the request for a new recommendation letter came, we said we would first need to verify the records, as the principal did not know him. There was no delay. The company had not given us any deadline. We sent the letter as soon as we received a reminder,” he told The Hindu.

Meanwhile, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar issued a statement criticising the college. “Why was he [Mr. Birhade] fit for recommendation then, but now, he secured a place abroad, the college suddenly finds his character problematic? Let’s be honest. This isn’t about discipline. This is about discomfort. Discomfort with a Dalit student daring to rise beyond the limits society quietly sets for him!”

Mr. Ambedkar added, “What the college has done isn’t just unethical, it’s a targeted and discriminatory act! It’s academic sabotage rooted in caste prejudice! Instead of celebrating his success, they chose to block his path. We need to call this what it is: caste-based discrimination. And it’s not just wrong, it’s criminal!”