Delhi University PhD Scholar Suspended After Allegedly Slapping Professor; CCTV Captures Incident

A serious incident of alleged physical assault at Delhi University has sparked concern among the university community. A PhD scholar from the Faculty of Law has been suspended after he was allegedly seen assaulting a professor inside the university campus.

According to reports, the incident took place at around 10:30 am on Monday at Umang Bhawan. CCTV footage reportedly showed the PhD scholar approaching the professor and allegedly slapping him. Other students present at the location reportedly intervened after the confrontation.

The scholar has been identified in the university's order as Shubham Singh, who was admitted to the Faculty of Law during the 2024-25 academic session. Following the incident and the emergence of CCTV footage, the Office of the Proctor ordered his immediate suspension from the Faculty of Law. His entry into Delhi University premises has also been prohibited with immediate effect.

CCTV Footage Becomes Key Evidence

The alleged assault was captured on CCTV, which became an important part of the university's initial action. Reports said the footage showed the scholar waiting near the entrance of a university building before approaching the professor.

The footage reportedly captures the physical confrontation, although the circumstances leading up to the incident are still being examined. The university has not publicly established the final reason behind the alleged assault.

Professor Says He Was Attacked While Going to Class

The professor involved in the incident has been identified by Hindustan Times as Anupam Jha, who has taught at the Faculty of Law for more than two decades.

According to the professor's account cited by the publication, he was on his way to a class when the scholar allegedly approached him and began hitting him. The professor reportedly suffered injuries to his elbow and hand.

Reports also indicate that the professor and the scholar had previously interacted in connection with the scholar's PhD admission interview. However, the university has not yet publicly confirmed whether this earlier interaction was directly connected to the alleged assault.

Three-Member Committee to Investigate

Delhi University has constituted an independent three-member inquiry committee to investigate the allegations and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The committee is headed by Professor Rajeev Gupta of the Department of Chemistry. Professor Vipul Singh of the Department of History and Professor Sudha Singh of the Department of Hindi are the other members.

The committee has been tasked with examining the alleged misconduct and submitting its report to the university.

Student Barred From University Premises

Along with the suspension, the university has imposed an immediate ban on the scholar's entry into DU premises under the relevant provisions of the Delhi University Act.

The university has not publicly specified the duration of the suspension. The disciplinary action is currently based on the alleged misconduct while the independent inquiry is underway.

Teachers Demand Stronger Action

The incident has also triggered concerns among sections of the teaching community over safety and discipline on university campuses.

The Democratic Teachers' Front has condemned the alleged assault and described it as another instance of physical aggression against teachers. The teachers' body has called for stronger action and raised concerns about what it considers inadequate responses to incidents involving violence against faculty members.

The latest incident has also drawn comparisons with an earlier 2025 incident involving a Delhi University-affiliated college, where a student leader was accused of slapping a professor. DU had subsequently taken disciplinary action in that case.

Investigation Will Establish the Full Sequence

For now, the exact circumstances behind the confrontation remain under investigation. Key questions include what happened immediately before the alleged assault, whether there was an existing dispute between the two individuals and what triggered the confrontation.

The CCTV footage, statements from the professor and witnesses, and the inquiry committee's findings are expected to play an important role in determining the facts of the case.

While the university has taken immediate disciplinary action against the scholar, the allegations will be subject to the ongoing inquiry and applicable legal and university procedures.