Duke professor defends himself after being accused of assault

Court documents show that Dr. Ranjan Sudan is facing three charges of sexual battery and one charge of assault on a female. The charges stem from a criminal summons sworn by the accuser and are not the result of a law enforcement investigation.

Duke University Health System officials confirmed that Sudan is a professor and vice chair in the Department of Surgery. Sudan has been with Duke since 2008.

A press release issued Friday from his lawyer at NicholsonPham in Durham stated the following:

"We can confirm that Dr. Ranjan Sudan has been accused of several misdemeanor crimes against a woman who formerly cared for his elderly mother. These allegations are false and completely without merit. They are a misguided attempt to cause Dr. Sudan personal and professional embarrassment. The charges were fabricated after the complainant was unable to coerce him into giving her additional money after she quit caring for his mother."

WRAL has reached out to the accuser for a response.

"Dr. Sudan is a well-respected board-certified surgeon at Duke," the statement from NicholsonPham continued. "He is a member of and sits on the boards of various eminent surgery organizations nationally, including the American College of Surgeons. He has most recently been recognized for excellence in surgical education by that organization. He wants to take this opportunity to thank the colleagues and professionals at Duke and nationwide who have reached out with their unqualified support. Dr. Sudan has an impeccable record of personal conduct in additional to his career excellence.

"Dr. Sudan looks forward to resolving the criminal case with the same meticulous and professional care he gives to his surgical patients."