Updated on: October 18, 2025 | 6:56 PM IST

New Delhi: A shocking incident at Delhi University’s Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College has triggered outrage across the academic and student communities after Deepika Jha, the Joint Secretary of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) and a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), allegedly slapped a professor during a disciplinary committee meeting. The incident took place on Thursday in the presence of Delhi Police personnel, and a six-member inquiry committee has now been formed to investigate the matter.

The confrontation, captured in a purported video circulating on social media, has raised serious questions about campus discipline and the growing tension between student groups and faculty members. The inquiry panel, chaired by Professor Neeta Sehgal of DU’s Department of Zoology, has been directed by Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh to submit its report within two weeks.

Here are 10 key points about the incident:

1. The Incident:
   During a disciplinary committee meeting at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, DUSU Joint Secretary Deepika Jhaallegedly slapped Professor Sujit Kumar, who was serving as the convener of the committee. The meeting was being held to discuss a recent incident of violence involving ABVP members on campus.
2. Video Evidence:
   A purported video of the incident shows Deepika slapping the professor seated beside her. Immediately after the slap, a female police officer can be seen pulling her away and making her sit at a distance. As the professor stands up, an unidentified man appears to push him back, while heated words are exchanged. The authenticity of the video has not yet been independently verified.
3. Deepika’s Admission:
   Speaking to Hindustan Times, Deepika Jha admitted to slapping the professor but claimed she acted in response to his alleged verbal abuse and inappropriate behavior. “I told him that I saw him smoking in public and that does not leave a good impression on students. He verbally abused me. He had also been staring and smirking at me even after I said I was uncomfortable. When he abused me, I slapped him — which I should not have done,” she said.
4. Disciplinary Meeting Context:
   The meeting was convened to address a recent instance of campus violence involving ABVP members, who had allegedly assaulted other students, according to the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF). The altercation occurred when ABVP representatives, including DUSU office bearers, allegedly entered the meeting uninvited.
5. Professor’s Version of Events:
   Professor Sujit Kumar rejected Deepika’s account and alleged that ABVP members barged into the disciplinary meeting uninvited. He said his college does not participate in DUSU elections but has its own student council, in which ABVP won three posts while the NSUI (National Students’ Union of India) won the president’s seat. According to him, tensions have been high since an NSUI member was assaulted by ABVP members a month ago.
6. Earlier Disciplinary Actions:
   Kumar said he had suspended three ABVP-affiliated students until September 30 after a video showed them attacking the NSUI president. However, he alleged that the violence continued, with one of the suspended students assaulting the NSUI member again on Wednesday in his presence.
7. Forced Resignation Allegation:
   The professor further claimed that on Thursday, about 50–60 ABVP members stormed the college during a Diwali celebration and disciplinary meeting. He alleged that DUSU President Aryan Maan and Deepika Jha entered the principal’s office and forced him to resign from his post as committee convener, fearing physical assault. “I wrote the resignation because I did not want to get beaten up,” he said. The alleged slapping incident followed soon after.
8. Inquiry Committee Formed:
   Delhi University has constituted a six-member inquiry panel headed by Professor Neeta Sehgal to probe the sequence of events. The committee has been tasked with examining video footage, statements, and witness accounts, and is expected to submit its factual report within two weeks to Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh.
9. Campus and Public Reaction:
   The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from both student and teacher organisations across Delhi University. Several faculty groups, including the Democratic Teachers’ Front, have demanded strict action against those responsible for “breaching the sanctity of academic spaces.” Student bodies, meanwhile, have urged the university administration to ensure an impartial investigation.
10. Broader Implications:
    The episode has reignited debate over student politics and campus safety, with educators warning that physical altercations threaten academic integrity and create an atmosphere of intimidation. The university administration has said it will ensure accountability and prevent such incidents in the future.

The inquiry committee’s findings are expected to clarify the events leading to the altercation and determine whether disciplinary or legal action will be taken. Meanwhile, both sides — the professor and the student leader — have stood by their respective accounts, deepening divisions within Delhi University’s politically active student community.