Photo Courtesy: Instagram/@shivajicollege_official
NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have arrested a married couple from West Bengal in connection with the murder of Debosmita Paul, a 42-year-old assistant professor of English at Shivaji College, Delhi University. The couple was apprehended in Bardhaman (Burdwan), West Bengal, and is being brought to Delhi for further investigation and interrogation.
On June 4 (Thursday), police received a PCR call around 2:35 pm at New Ashok Nagar police station from the victim’s sister, Devarati Paul (49). Devarati reported that her sister had been murdered inside her apartment at Satyam Apartments in Vasundhara Enclave, East Delhi.
Devarati had been trying to reach Debosmita throughout the day without success. Growing concerned, she visited the flat, found it locked from the outside, broke open the lock, and discovered her sister’s body inside.
A police team rushed to the spot and found the victim on the bed with severe head injuries, apparently caused by a blunt object.
Injuries on her wrists suggested the possible use of a sharp-edged weapon as well. No signs of robbery were evident, as jewellery and cash remained untouched.
The body was shifted to Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Hospital for post-mortem examination. A case was registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at New Ashok Nagar Police Station.
Debosmita Paul, who taught English at Shivaji College, had been living alone in the flat for the past four to five years. Her parents lived nearby, and she was separated from her husband since 2022 (after about five years of marriage), with him residing in Bengaluru.
She primarily relied on online delivery services for essentials. According to college details, her academic interests included partition studies, Indian literature, postcolonial literature, and translation studies.
Investigation and Arrest
Police quickly reviewed CCTV footage from the apartment complex and surrounding areas, focusing on visitors in the days leading up to the incident. Investigators shortlisted suspects from around 200 individuals who visited the housing society on the day of the murder and formed multiple teams that conducted raids across states while questioning hundreds of people.
CCTV captured a man and a woman, wearing masks and carrying bags, arriving in a private cab around 3:20 pm on June 3 (Wednesday, the day of the murder). They used the stairs instead of the lift to reach the sixth-floor flat. They brought their minor child along, reportedly to avoid suspicion, and left the child outside during the visit.
After committing the crime, they changed clothes, returned approximately 30 minutes later, and left in the waiting cab, sources said. The cab driver was detained and questioned, aiding identification.
The couple, residents of Bardhaman in West Bengal, had allegedly travelled nearly 1,400 km to Delhi under the pretext of meeting the professor. They were arrested on June 7 and are en route to Delhi.
Alleged Motive: Property Dispute
According to sources, the motive behind the murder appears to be a property dispute. Debosmita Paul had inherited a valuable property (worth crores) in West Bengal from her maternal grandfather. The arrested couple were reportedly residing on the estate as tenants and known to her in connection with this property. They had been trying to acquire or purchase it. While some members of the extended family were receptive to the transaction, but Paul refused and was pressuring them to vacate, leading to the alleged plot.
The couple allegedly entered the flat with a friendly demeanor before attacking her with a weapon they had brought. After the crime, they locked the flat from outside and fled.
Officials have confirmed that the accused are being brought to Delhi for further probe.
Academic Community Mourns Loss of Faculty Member
Dr. Paul had been a respected member of the faculty at Delhi University’s Shivaji College, where she taught within the Department of English for approximately two and a half years after a previous teaching tenure at Maharaja Agrasen College. Her academic scholarship focused extensively on postcolonial literature, translation studies, Indian literature, and partition studies, having completed her doctoral research at Jamia Millia Islamia in 2016.
Deep Roots and Mentorship at Maharaja Agrasen College
For the student community at Maharaja Agrasen College, this loss is deeply personal. Dr. Paul shared a special bond with the campus, having completed her undergraduate studies right here as a student. Years later, after advancing her academic research, she returned to her alma mater to join the faculty. She spent a decade teaching within the English Department, dedicating her time to mentoring students and guiding young minds.
Beyond her lectures, she was a warm, bright, and deeply positive presence on campus. She was always looking for ways to support students outside the classroom, serving as the head of the Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) committee. Her dedication was central to reviving the campus’s Vivekananda Study Circle, helping students build confidence and leadership skills. She was also actively involved with the cultural group UDAAN, always encouraging creative expression and helping organize campus events.
The news of her passing has left her former classrooms filled with grief. In accounts shared with The Times of India, her students remember her not just as a professor, but as a true mentor who made complex subjects feel accessible, gentle, and conversational.
More than anything, the student body remembers her encouraging nature and the kindness she brought to campus every day. Those who took her classes shared that she was one of the most approachable professors on campus, someone who always greeted everyone with a genuine smile that could light up any room. Her constant support, guidance, and bright classroom presence have left a beautiful, lasting mark on the hearts of everyone she taught.
The unexpected tragedy has deeply affected her colleagues and students at her current institution as well. Reflecting on her contributions to the university, Shivaji College Principal Virender Bhardwaj noted her active involvement in institutional life. “She was sensitive, hardworking and had an affinity for the arts. While she was introverted, she was always very enthusiastic about cultural activities and would often accompany our students wherever they participated,” Bhardwaj said, adding that the administration had initially attempted to contact her for routine college operations on Thursday before receiving news of her passing later that afternoon.
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