‘He smirked, I lost control’: DUSU’s Deepika Jha on slapping Ambedkar College Professor

A controversy erupted at Delhi’s Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College on Thursday when DUSU joint secretary and ABVP member Deepika Jha slapped commerce professor Sujit Kumar during a disciplinary meeting. The incident happened in front of Delhi Police officers and sparked outrage among teachers and student groups.

Delhi University immediately formed a six-member inquiry committee to investigate the case. The committee, led by Professor Neeta Sehgal of the Zoology Department, will submit its report within two weeks.

The Incident

The confrontation occurred during a disciplinary committee meeting called to address a recent clash between ABVP and NSUI students on campus. A 32-second CCTV clip shows Kumar sitting beside Jha while several people, including four police personnel, stand nearby. As the discussion intensified, Jha stood up and slapped Kumar. A female police officer stepped in and separated them.

What Deepika Jha Said

Jha admitted that she slapped the professor. She said Kumar verbally abused her after she confronted him for smoking in public. “I told him it sets a bad example for students,” she said. “He then abused me and kept staring and smirking. I reacted out of anger, though I know I shouldn’t have.”

On Friday morning, she posted an apology video. She claimed Kumar had “threatened and stared” at her in front of police and appeared drunk. “After seeing that, I felt angry and raised my hand,” she said. “I regret the incident and apologise to the teachers’ community. I never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments.”

Professor Kumar’s Account

Kumar denied Jha’s allegations. He said ABVP members entered the meeting without permission. According to him, the clash began after an oath-taking ceremony at the college. “Our students elect a separate college council. Three ABVP members won unopposed, while an NSUI student became president,” he explained.

Kumar said tensions grew when ABVP members allegedly beat up the NSUI student last month. “We had a video of the assault, so I suspended three ABVP students till September 30,” he said. “On Wednesday, during another event, one suspended student attacked the same NSUI student in front of me. Later, ABVP members pressured me to resign. Then Deepika Jha came and slapped me.”

Investigation and Reactions

A senior police officer confirmed that they received the complaint late Thursday evening. Investigators are reviewing the video and collecting CCTV footage. The police said they will question all parties involved.

Meanwhile, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) condemned the assault and staged a protest at the north campus on Friday. The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) also criticised the incident, calling it an “attack on academic integrity.”

Student bodies, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), demanded strict action against those responsible. “Universities must remain spaces of dialogue, not violence,” SFI said in a statement.

What Lies Ahead

The university administration said it will take disciplinary action after the inquiry committee submits its report. As both sides trade accusations, the case has deepened rifts among student groups and faculty members on campus.

What began as a disciplinary discussion has now turned into a campus-wide confrontation, raising fresh questions about student politics, discipline, and accountability at Delhi University.