Vishal Vaibhav, a former Assistant Professor of Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D), who is currently working with rabid leftist Congress-supporting media Newslaundry is at the center of a major controversy following the emergence of highly offensive social media posts that disparage Hindu religious practices and sentiments.
In his anonymous X (formerly Twitter) handle @PanchgavyaG (Panchgavya Guru) he can be seen employing the language used by Islamists against Hindus.
The posts specifically mock the use of cow dung (gobar) and cow urine (gomutra) in traditional practices, employing crass and offensive language to describe them. In one post, he reportedly stated, “Gobar jihad chutiye!… Jakar gomutra pee” (Gobar Jihad, idiot! Go drink cow urine). He also uses the term “cowfucker”, “dickless Hindutva” in many of the posts.
The language used extends beyond criticism into what many are calling outright hate speech, with slurs directed at the Hindu community.
This has prompted severe backlash from online users and community groups, who accuse him of abusing his influential position to spread religious intolerance.
Controversial Past At IIT-Delhi
This is not Vaibhav’s first brush with controversy. His tenure at IIT Delhi was marked by significant institutional friction. In 2024, he publicly alleged a “conspiracy” to evict him from his campus residence, claiming a complaint was filed against him in the SC/ST cell by prominent lawyer Harish Salve and a female professor he claims to have never met. He was involved in representing a PhD student in a disciplinary proceeding, which further escalated tensions on campus.
A conspiracy has been hatched to evict me from my house on campus of @iitdelhi by filing a complaint against me in the SC/ST Cell.
Mr. Harish Salve in cahoots with a female Professor (who I have never met in my life or interacted with) is alleging that I am illegally living on… https://t.co/vTZ1qB1Ceh
— Panchgavya Guru (@PanchgavyaG) November 16, 2024
Reports indicate that Vaibhav was eventually barred from the IIT Delhi campus due to “severe disciplinary violations.” His exit from the premier institute appears to be confirmed, as he is now identified as a former professor and is currently a writer for the online publication Newslaundry.
Political Alignment – Congress
Despite the personal controversies, Vaibhav has recently re-entered the public eye in a professional capacity. He was engaged by petitioners challenging the NEET-UG 2024 results to provide a statistical analysis countering the report submitted by IIT Madras to the Supreme Court. His critique, which argued the IIT-M report was “pseudo-scientific,” was covered by major publications like The Hindu.
In 2024, Vishal Kumar Vaibhav filed an RTI seeking detailed data on Assistant Professors’ probation, confirmations, and related DoPT guidelines since 2016. IIT Delhi denied the request under Sections 7(9) (voluminous request) and 8(1)(j) (third-party personal information). The First Appeal was rejected, and Vaibhav approached the CIC. The Commission held the request excessively broad, requiring compilation from personal files of third parties, exempt under RTI. Citing CBSE v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011), the CIC dismissed the appeal, upholding IIT Delhi’s refusal and advising judicious use of RTI.
He further filed a writ petition under Article 226 challenging the appointment of a professor via quo warranto. The Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Jyoti Singh, noted objections to the Petitioner’s locus, citing his suspension and ongoing disciplinary proceedings. Respondents argued the Petitioner had engaged in abusive social media posts against faculty. The Petitioner undertook to file an affidavit within two days, refraining from derogatory posts or publicising the petition. Notice was issued, counter-affidavits to be filed, and the matter was listed for 21 April 2025 – which he failed to do and requested 4 more weeks’ time to submit.
The resurfacing of his alleged social media activity has intensified the criticism. Many have expressed outrage that an individual from a prestigious academic background would engage in such derogatory speech. The comments have been condemned as not only Hinduphobic but also as reflective of an anti-Sikh bias, with one user ominously noting that such rhetoric from influential figures can create a environment that leads to tragedies like the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Vishal Vaibhav’s descent from IIT Delhi professor to Congress-leaning propagandist at Newslaundry exposes a disturbing pattern. Shielded by the garb of “intellectual critique,” he spews venom against Hindu traditions while enjoying legitimacy from elite platforms. His case is not about free speech—it is about Hinduphobia being normalized and weaponized by those who claim moral high ground.
(With inputs from Vijay Patel)
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