Indian PhD Students Settle Discrimination Lawsuit Over Palak Paneer Incident at US University

In September 2023, Indian PhD students Aditya Prakash and Urmi Bhattacheryya at the University of Colorado Boulder faced objections from staff over reheating palak paneer in a shared microwave, citing its smell. They alleged this incident led to discrimination and retaliation, including loss of teaching assistantship and withheld degrees. After filing a federal civil rights lawsuit, the university settled in 2025, paying $200,000 and awarding them Master's degrees, while barring future enrollment or employment. The couple has since returned to India.