A former computing teacher at the Royal Latin School, Chandrika Punshon, is facing a bill of approximately £92,000 after falsely accusing a male colleague of being an "incel" and plotting to murder her. The tribunal found that Punshon engaged in a "multi-faceted campaign of harassment, threatening and intimidating behaviour" against the colleague, identified only as Mr AB.
According to tribunal proceedings held in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, Punshon taught at the Buckingham-based grammar school from September 2022 to February 2023. After her departure, she made allegations to an employment tribunal centre, describing Mr AB as an "incel"—a term for involuntary celibates often associated with online communities critical of women. She also claimed he had "pursued me romantically" and "knows where I live."
Further emails from Punshon alleged a "physical threat of violence" from her colleague, describing it as "credible." In one communication in February 2024, she suggested that if she were killed, Mr AB could be a "guilty, murderous patsy." She also told Thames Valley Police that Mr AB "did not have any friends, like a profile of an incel."
The male colleague reported feeling "sick" and "completely astounded" by the "baseless" allegations, stating that being called an incel was personally insulting and rude. Police investigated the claims but closed the case without any criminal charges being filed against him.
Despite her conduct, Punshon brought claims of race and sex discrimination, as well as race harassment, against the school, all of which were dismissed. The tribunal ruled that she would have to pay 100 percent of the costs attributable to her "vexatious, abusive, disruptive or otherwise unreasonable conduct of proceedings." The Royal Latin School is seeking £92,903.40 in legal costs.
This is not the first time Punshon has made an unsuccessful discrimination claim against the school. Previously, she accused bosses of racism over a misspelling of her name, which a separate tribunal ruled was unrelated to her race and stemmed from an errant letter in her married name, which has English origins.
Judge Alexander Green expressed concern about the tone and frequency of Punshon's communications, noting that her behaviour was bullying and intimidating. He stated that the prospects of a fair trial were "hanging by a thread" due to her "scandalous and unreasonable behaviour," but believed robust case management could still allow for a fair trial. A specialist judge will determine the final sum Punshon owes after a detailed assessment of the costs.