3 weeks ago
TISS Student Abhirup Paul Gets Another Day In Police Custody
A university student in Mumbai named Abhirup Paul is being held by the police.
The police think he helped host a memorial event at his college without getting permission first.
The event remembered a former professor named G. N. Saibaba, who used to teach in Delhi.
Police say students entered the campus without asking, showed Saibaba's photo, and lit candles.
Some people at the event shouted slogans like "Release Umar Khalid" and "Release Sharjeel Imam."
Abhirup asked a court to let him go free, but the court said no.
Now the police want one more day with him to look at his phone and computer.
They say they found books and messages they think are suspicious, and some messages were deleted.
Police have also asked two professors at the university about messages they may have shared with him.
The investigation is still going on, and no one has been found guilty yet.
The Mumbai Crime Branch secured one more day of police custody for 32-year-old TISS student Abhirup Ashim Paul, alias Ronnie.
The case stems from an alleged unauthorized memorial gathering and candle-lighting for former Delhi University professor G.N. Saibaba at the TISS campus in October 2025.
Police allege students entered the campus without prior permission, displayed Saibaba's photograph, and raised slogans including "Release Umar Khalid" and "Release Sharjeel Imam."
Paul was arrested by Crime Branch Unit 6 after a sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
Police cited Maoist-related literature on Paul's devices, WhatsApp messages about field visits, and deleted data, while Mumbai Police emailed notices to two TISS professors; the investigation is ongoing.
- Who
- Abhirup Ashim Paul (alias Ronnie), a 32-year-old student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), held in custody by the Mumbai Crime Branch.
- What
- Police secured one more day of his custody to investigate an alleged unauthorized memorial gathering for former Delhi University professor G.N. Saibaba held on the TISS campus.
- Where
- Mumbai; the event occurred at the TISS campus, the case was initially registered at Trombay police station, and the hearing took place before the 37th Metropolitan Magistrate.
- When
- The gathering took place in October 2025; Paul was arrested on a Saturday after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected, and the custody hearing is ongoing.
- Why
- Police allege students entered the campus without permission, paid tribute to Saibaba and raised slogans, and that Paul's devices contained Maoist-related literature and deleted messages.
Key facts
- Student
- Abhirup Ashim Paul (alias Ronnie), 32
- Institution
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
- Incident
- Alleged unauthorized memorial gathering for G.N. Saibaba
- Incident date
- October 2025
- Arresting unit
- Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 6
- Custody extension
- One additional day, granted by the 37th Metropolitan Magistrate
- Laws invoked
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions; Maharashtra Police Act Sections 37(d), 37(e), 135
- Alleged slogans
- "Release Umar Khalid", "Release Sharjeel Imam"





