CCTV captures Delhi University PhD scholar slapping professor; student suspended, barred from campus | Watch video

DU PhD Scholar Suspended Over CCTV Slap Video

Theindiapostdaily.com – When CCTV captures Delhi University PhD scholar Shubham Singh delivering a slap to a faculty member, the university’s response was swift: immediate suspension and a campus-wide entry ban. A three-member professorial panel has been constituted to investigate the Monday-morning altercation and recommend further disciplinary action. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from faculty bodies and reignited debate over how Delhi University handles aggression directed at its teaching staff.

What the Footage Shows

The surveillance recording, as reported by India Today, depicts Singh—enrolled in the Faculty of Law for the 2024-25 academic year—lingering near a building entrance before approaching professor Umang Bhawan and striking him. Students visible in the frame rush forward in an attempt to separate the two. University Proctor Manoj Kumar Singh confirmed that the episode took place on a Monday morning and announced the immediate convening of an investigative committee to examine the circumstances.

Administrative Response and Ongoing Inquiry

The Proctor’s Office issued a formal order removing Singh from the Faculty of Law effective at once. While the inquiry remains open, he is prohibited from setting foot on any Delhi University property. The three-member panel, drawn entirely from professorial ranks, will reconstruct the sequence of events that precipitated the confrontation and advise the administration on whether additional sanctions or administrative steps are warranted. No final disciplinary determination has been communicated as of the latest reporting.

Faculty Body Demands Stronger Safeguards

The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) described the episode as the third recent instance of physical aggression or violence directed at faculty members. The organisation faulted the university administration for what it characterised as a sluggish and inadequate response to campus-hostility complaints, arguing that a suspension order alone would not deter future incidents.

The DTF pressed the university to adopt concrete safeguards guaranteeing the safety and dignity of teaching staff, noting that professors had previously endured verbal abuse from a separate Faculty of Law student and that institutional mechanisms remain insufficient.

The teachers’ body further urged the administration to publish clear protocols for reporting and responding to aggression, so that faculty members need not rely on informal channels to seek protection.

Earlier Confrontation at Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College

The latest episode revived scrutiny of a comparable incident reported in October 2025 at Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, a DU-affiliated institution. DU Students’ Union Joint Secretary Deepika Jha was accused of slapping professor Sujit Kumar during a disciplinary committee meeting. Video of the exchange circulated widely and triggered protests, with faculty members demanding institutional intervention. Delhi University subsequently suspended Jha for two months and barred her from entering any DU-affiliated college in her capacity as a student leader. Portions of the teaching community deemed that sanction insufficient—a point the DTF has raised while questioning whether the university has been firm enough in addressing alleged violence against educators.

What Comes Next

The constituted committee will focus its inquiry on the circumstances surrounding Singh’s confrontation with professor Umang Bhawan, seeking to establish what triggered the Monday altercation before recommending appropriate follow-up measures. Until the panel concludes its work, Singh remains suspended from the Faculty of Law and excluded from all Delhi University premises. The episode has once again intensified calls from the teaching community for robust institutional mechanisms capable of deterring and addressing aggression on university campuses, and observers will watch closely whether the administration’s next steps go beyond a routine suspension.

FAQ

Why was the DU PhD scholar suspended? The university acted on surveillance video showing the doctoral candidate striking a faculty member. Suspension is an interim measure pending the outcome of the professorial inquiry panel.

What is the role of the three-member panel? The panel, drawn from professorial ranks, will reconstruct the events of the Monday altercation and advise the administration on further disciplinary or administrative steps.

Can the suspended student return to campus while the inquiry is open? No. He is prohibited from entering any Delhi University property until the panel concludes its work and the administration issues a final determination.

Is this the first recent case of faculty aggression at Delhi University? No. The DTF identified it as the third recent instance, following earlier incidents including the October 2025 confrontation at Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College.