Just hours before she was due to appear for a crucial promotion interview, a Delhi University professor was found dead under suspicious circumstances inside her east Delhi apartment, triggering a murder investigation.

Devosmita Paul, an Assistant Professor at Shivaji College, lived alone at Satyam Apartments in Vasundhara Enclave, East Delhi.

Her husband lives in Bengaluru, and police said the couple had been separated, with divorce proceedings reportedly ongoing for the past four years.

The 43-year-old academic was found dead on Thursday afternoon after family members and colleagues grew concerned when she failed to answer calls and did not attend her scheduled promotion interview.

According to her family, Paul had been carrying on with her routine in the hours before her death and had even arranged for medicines to be sent to her mother. However, she became unreachable thereafter.

Concerned by the lack of contact, her sister travelled to the apartment and found it locked from the outside. With the help of locals and members of the Residents Welfare Association, the lock was broken open.

Inside, Paul was found lying dead on the floor. Investigators said she had suffered a severe head injury, while both her wrists were slit.

Bruises were also found on her face and body. The nature of the injuries has led police to suspect foul play.

Police said there were no signs of forced entry into the apartment, raising the possibility that the victim may have known the person who entered the flat.

Colleagues described Paul as a reserved academic who had previously worked as a guest lecturer and ad hoc faculty member before joining Shivaji College as an Assistant Professor in 2023.

Crime scene and forensic teams examined the apartment and collected evidence. A case has been registered under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Punishment for murder), and multiple teams have been formed to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination as investigators work to piece together the events leading up to the professor’s death.