A Delhi University reader was found dead in his apartment on Friday.

Arun Kumar used to teach political science at Zakir Hussain College. The police were called by a relative and they found his body in the computer room, with dried blood in his nose and mouth.

Kumar’s family was in Mumbai for vacations and he was alone at home. According to Kumar’s neighbours, a foul smell coming from his home prompted them into calling his relatives. According to the police, he died on Thursday, the body had been lying in the same position for over 24 hours.

A resident of Shalimar Garden Extension I, Kumar had been elected to the academic council of Delhi University in December. Pradeep Kumar, a colleague, said he was a bright person and had spent some time in the Indian Military Academy as well. Kumar had completed his PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

His wife, Anuradha, is a singer. “She sings for Garhwali films. They have an eight-year-old daughter,” Pradeep said.

Kumar’s family suspects a brain haemorrhage. “He was a patient of blood pressure and it is possible he died of a brain haemorrhage, as we found dried blood in his nose and mouth. The smell was so strong that we could barely stand in the room in which his body was found,” one of his relatives said.

Kumar was supposed to go to Mumbai along with his family but had to stay back because of an academic council meeting.

When asked about Kumar’s postmortem report, which has been lying in the police station since the evening, Sahibabad SHO Yogesh Pathak said: “I have not looked into the matter. I will have to ask my juniors and inform accordingly,” he said.