The vice-chancellor of UK-based University of Buckingham James Tooley has been suspended after allegations of an affair with a woman from Hyderabad. He allegedly helped her with paying her university tuition fees.
The Indian woman claimed in her diary that she had a sexual relationship with the 65-year-old Professor Tooley, which was accessed by his wife who then handed them over to the university authorities. His suspension which happened in October has come to light now. Cynthia, the professor’s wife, is a Nigerian-born entrepreneur, TV personality. The couple parted ways and now communicate through lawyers.
Tooley, who has been the vice-chancellor since 2020, however, said that the claims were “baseless and malicious” and expressed confidence that he would be “vindicated”.
Media reports indicated that the Indian woman said she was 18 when she first met Tooley and their relationship became sexual in her 20s.
The alleged affair blossomed when Tooley worked on a project in Hyderabad aimed at providing low-cost private schools for poor communities. “Anyone who reads my diaries can see I was in love with him and wanted to be with him. He was kind and thoughtful and always treated me with respect. People will say he used me because he has power and money. But that’s not the case. He is a good man who cares a lot about other people,” the Indian woman reportedly wrote in her diary.
“The Vice Chancellor has been suspended following a number of serious allegations… It is our intention to carry out an independent inquiry to ascertain the veracity of these claims,” said the university managers.