A journalist investigating claims surrounding Cambridge's scandal-hit professor - their self-described 'champion of DEI' - was left stunned after police launched a harassment inquiry into his reporting.
Times Higher Education reporter Jack Grove told The Telegraph that officers contacted him after a complaint was made over emails he sent to Professor Jason Arday asking questions about his academic record. The journalist claims police told him not to contact the professor again because his questions had affected Prof Arday’s “mental health”. Mr Grove said he was shocked to discover he had been investigated. “I was just doing my job,” he said. “Journalists should be free to ask questions of anyone, even star professors.”
The Metropolitan Police investigated the complaint for four months before closing the case in February. Officers did not interview Mr Grove. The row began after Mr Grove received information from academics who raised concerns about apparent similarities between parts of Arday’s work and another student’s PhD. "Police investigated a journalist who tried to expose a Cambridge professor. This is outrageous. The police officer who ordered the investigation must be sacked," news presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer said.
The reporter contacted Arday, Cambridge University and Liverpool John Moores University, where Arday received his doctorate, seeking answers. Questions were also raised about claims relating to fundraising achievements and ultra-distance running challenges. The investigation prompted legal involvement from the law firm Carter-Ruck, which sent a letter to Times Higher Education suggesting the criticism of Prof Arday “may be” racially motivated. Arday has denied wrongdoing and has attributed apparent plagiarism issues to his autism, saying he absorbs information through mimicry.
He has also acknowledged that some previous claims about his achievements were inaccurate, including a claim that he ran 600 miles in six days for charity. Questions have also been raised over claims regarding his charitable fundraising, with Prof Arday previously implying he personally raised £5.5 million alone, which was later proven as false.
Further controversy emerged after claims were debunked that he had been a visiting professor at Ohio State University, and was threatened by receiving a severed pigs head in what he called a 'racially motivated' attack - also proven false. A university spokesperson said there was no record of an employee by that name, while Prof Arday’s profile had listed him as a visiting professor connected with the institution’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Cambridge University said it did not make any complaint to police against Mr Grove and was not aware of any such complaint being made.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it received an allegation of harassment in November 2025 and that the case was closed several months later.
