Professor found dead,Indian colleague

Dr Devinder Sivia held,then released on bail ,after Prof Steven Rawlingss body was found at his home

Britain8217;s 900-year-old Oxford University was in shock Friday after a prominent astrophysicist was found dead and a maths lecturer of Indian origin was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The body of Professor Steven Rawlings,50,was found on Wednesday night at the home of Dr Devinder Sivia,49,in Southmoor,Oxfordshire. There were reports that the two men described as close friends who had also co-written a book had fallen out over academic matters while they were at Sivias house after a meal at a local pub.

Sivia was arrested on Wednesday and released on bail on Friday morning until April 18. Police said a lengthy bail date was necessary because an autopsy was inconclusive and further examinations were needed. We can confirm that the two individuals involved have been friends for over 30 years, the police said.

Linda Davey,64,Rawlingss elder sister,told The Telegraph that he was not the type of man to get into an argument. They have been friends for 30 years. We cant think there was any kind of fight. We can only assume it was a terrible accident. Steven was big,but he was gentle, she said. Rawlings wife Linda also said she did not believe her husband had been murdered. Steve and Devinder were best friends since college and I believe this is a tragic accident, she said in a statement emailed to journalists by the police. I do not believe Devinder should be tarnished in this way, she said.

Sivia teaches maths for natural sciences to physics and chemistry undergraduates at Saint Johns,one of the 38 colleges that make up the university,and has published two books. Rawlings was based at another college,Saint Peters. He lectured on vector calculus to first-year undergraduates,had been head of Oxfords astrophysics department from 2006 to 2010 and was one of the lead scientists in the Square Kilometre Array,an international project to create the worlds largest radio telescope.

Duncan Logan,who lives opposite Sivias house,said the news came as a bolt from the blue. I cant believe what Im hearing8230; They were the best of friends. They were nice,gentle,well-spoken,polite and hard-working people8230; I never heard them row, he said. About Sivia,he added: I cant imagine Devinder hurting anyone. Ive never even heard him raise his voice.

The entire university community has been profoundly saddened and shocked by the death of Professor Rawlings, said Oxford Vice-Chancellor Andrew Hamilton.