A couple from West Bengal has been taken into custody for the killing of a Delhi University Assistant Professor, as confirmed by officials on Sunday, three days post the incident. The motive behind the crime was reportedly a property dispute, and the accused pair had traveled from Bengal to Delhi with the intention to commit the offense.
The victim, Debosmita Paul, who served as an Assistant Professor at Shivaji College, University of Delhi, was discovered deceased in a flat at Satyam Apartments in Vasundhara Enclave, east Delhi, on June 4. Investigations indicated that the murder occurred a day earlier, on June 3.
Earlier observations by the Delhi Police revealed a man and a woman, both masked and carrying bags, entering the professor’s residence on June 3, the presumed day of the incident, and staying inside for nearly 30 minutes before departing.
The duo reportedly arrived at the residential complex in a private cab around 3:20 p.m. on June 3. While the cab driver waited outside, the man and woman with bags entered the apartment building. Surveillance footage suggested that they bypassed the elevator, opting for the stairs to access the flat.
Authorities suspect that the pair spent close to half an hour inside the premises before leaving. Sources also mentioned a change in attire as they exited the building, raising suspicions.
Initial investigations at the crime scene indicated no forced entry, leading to the theory that the victim might have been acquainted with the intruders. This notion supports the idea of a “friendly entry,” where the victim willingly allowed the visitors in.
Debosmita Paul had been residing alone in her sister’s apartment following separation from her husband in 2022 due to marital conflicts, with him currently living in Bengaluru. The case unfolded after her sister, Devarati Paul, grew anxious over unanswered calls and found the apartment locked from outside. Upon entry, she discovered Debosmita’s lifeless body in a pool of blood, prompting her to alert the authorities.
According to investigators, the victim suffered a severe head injury from a heavy object, along with wrist injuries.
