He was demoted for blowing the whistle on financial irregularities surrounding the construction of a medical building on campus, says a Texas A & M professor.

The Austin (Texas) American-Statesman reported on Wednesday that Robert Hash is suing the university, saying he lost his position as vice dean of academic affairs after informing superiors a number of A&M employees had a financial interest in the construction of the school's new Family Medicine Practice building.

Court documents have shown that in March 2009, Hash lodged an ethics complaint through the university and the state's Office of Inspector General abuse and fraud reporting system.

The suit filed in state District Court in Travis County says that a few days later, Hash was relieved of his vice dean job and was demoted to associate professor without tenure.

Andrew Strong, A&M general counsel, said that Hash was "moved down into a faculty position because he had personality differences with other administrators." (With Inputs from Agencies)