BALTTIMORE, Md., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A University of Maryland chemistry professor acquitted of sexual assault says administrators forced him into retirement.
Ramachandra Hosmane, 66, is suing the university, seeking more than $30 million, The Baltimore Sun reported Tuesday. In legal papers filed in December in Baltimore County Circuit Court, he said a lawyer for the university threatened him with a two-year suspension and possible loss of his pension, and he did not realize at the time the university did not have the power to impose either on him.
Hosmane retired in January 2010 while charges were still pending against him. In his suit, he says he acted "involuntarily and under extreme duress on the basis of false and/or misleading information."
Charges against Hosmane were dropped and then reinstated. He was acquitted in September.
Hosmane, who is a Hindu, also said university officials were insensitive to his religion. He said that at an internal hearing the former director of human relations told him that "praying to Christ" helped her with decisions.
During his 27 years at the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus, Hosmane was honored for his teaching. He said the graduate student who accused him of sexual assault was upset with his supervision of her work.
