Indian- origin Sikh released on bail after Oxford professor’s wife gives clean chit

London - The Oxfordshire Police have released an Indian-origin Sikh Dr Devinder Sivia on bail after deceased astrophysicist Steve Rawlings’ wife gave a clean chit to the latter, and termed her husband’s death a “tragic incident”.

“Steve and Devinder were best friends since college, and I believe this is a tragic accident. I do not believe that Steve’s death is murder and I do not believe Devinder should be tarnished in this way,” The Telegraph quoted her statement, as saying.

“We can’t think that there was any kind of fight. We can only assume that it was a terrible accident. Steven was big but he was gentle,” Professor Rawlings’s sister Linda Davey added.
The police had earlier arrested Sivia after his close pal Rawlings’ dead body was found at his house, suggesting a possibility of a violent altercation between both men.

A post mortem examination has failed to ascertain the cause of death, and police are now probing if Rowlings was suffering from any medical condition.

Rawlings’ friends also revealed that he had been undergoing stress over the past few months, and also had a breakdown.

Rawlings’ close friend, who claimed to have spoken to him before his death, said he was considering resigning from his post at Oxford.

“I could tell he wanted to get some things off his chest. He was thinking about the future and contemplating handing his notice in to St Peter’s College. He had a very intense job and he was a very intense person,” a friend said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Rawlings had spent the evening with Dr Sivia at a local pub before returning to the latter’s home in Southmoor, Oxon before his death.

A Bear Hotel staff member said Rowlings “wasn’t his normal self, he was quite quiet” at the restaurant and added that he “did sense something wasn’t right when they walked in to the restaurant.