A former Cambridge University professor who resigned following accusations of plagiarism has been found dead. Jason Arday, the university’s youngest black professor, was found “unresponsive” at an address in Battersea, in London, on Friday afternoon, local time, emergency services said.“A 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by officers,” a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police told the UK Telegraph. “At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.”Professor Arday resigned from his role as a professor of sociology of education last week following allegations of plagiarism and questions about his stated achievements. Diagnosed with autism and developmental delays as a toddler, Prof Arday said he didn’t fully speak until the age of 11, and learnt to read and write only as an adult.Critics had closely examined his academic record and achievements, claiming he was hired as a “poster boy” to address the university’s perceived diversity issues.The controversy initially centred on Prof Arday’s doctoral thesis, which allegedly contained similar or identical passages to other academic works.Questions were also raised about other aspects of Prof Arday’s backstory, including the claim that he ran 970 kilometres in six days — a feat reserved for record-breaking ultra-runners — and had personally raised £5.5 million ($10.5 million) for charity.News of Prof Arday’s death has sparked a widespread reaction on social media. “I’m deeply shocked & saddened to hear about the death of Jason Arday,” Lucy Powell, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in the UK, wrote on X. “My heartfelt condolences are with his friends and family at this very sad time. I urge people to give them privacy through this incredibly difficult period & to remember there are real people with loved ones involved.”James Cleverly, the UK’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote: “The death of Jason Arday is tragic, and makes me so angry.”“A number of people at a number of academic institutions have serious questions to answer. They put him into positions he was clearly not qualified for so they could have a black wunderkind to show off, they pushed him into the spotlight for their own benefit.”In a statement, Cambridge’s top administrator Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice said the university was “desperately saddened to hear this tragic news”. “Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’sfamily and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”‘Relentless accusations’Cambridge initially stood by Prof Arday amid the accusations of plagiarism, but opened its inquiry into his record last week.“The University of Cambridge has begun an investigation following new information about Professor Arday’s qualifications and honorary appointments,” the university said in a statement.“In order to ensure a fair process, we will not comment further until this has concluded.”Speaking to the Times of London in July, Prof Arday denied plagiarism but admitted to some “mistakes” in his work, arguing he was being wrongly “portrayed to be a liar and a fantasist and an academic fraud”.He also alleged the “campaign to unseat me from my position” was “racially motivated”.Prof Arday resigned shortly after the Cambridge probe was launched.In a statement announcing his resignation, he said the “relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love”.“To become the youngest Black professor in the University’s history was something I could scarcely have imagined as a child growing up with a diagnosis of autism, unable to speak until I was eleven years old,” the statement said.“Sadly, the years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack.“While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement.”Prof Arday’s autobiography was published this week by Simon & Schuster.