diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata.cc b/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata.cc
index 67bf02b4e1a..aae6e75ac95 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata.cc
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ Status KeyValueMetadata::DeleteMany(std::vector<int64_t> indices) {
     DCHECK_GE(stop, 0);
     DCHECK_LE(stop, size);
     for (int64_t index = start; index < stop; ++index) {
+      DCHECK_GE(index - shift, 0);
       keys_[index - shift] = std::move(keys_[index]);
       values_[index - shift] = std::move(values_[index]);
     }
diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata.h b/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata.h
index 57ade11e758..b65bbb3dfd4 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata.h
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata.h
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ class ARROW_EXPORT KeyValueMetadata {
   // Note that deleting may invalidate known indices
   Status Delete(std::string_view key);
   Status Delete(int64_t index);
+
+  /// \brief Delete metadata entries at specified index in keys and values array
+  /// \param indices Vector of distinct indices identifying the entries to
+  ///        remove from the metadata.
+  /// \return Status indicating success or failure.
+
   Status DeleteMany(std::vector<int64_t> indices);
   Status Set(std::string key, std::string value);
 
diff --git a/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata_test.cc b/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata_test.cc
index 7c021429ac1..d4781994b1f 100644
--- a/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata_test.cc
+++ b/cpp/src/arrow/util/key_value_metadata_test.cc
@@ -226,6 +226,10 @@ TEST(KeyValueMetadataTest, Delete) {
     ASSERT_OK(metadata.DeleteMany({}));
     ASSERT_TRUE(metadata.Equals(KeyValueMetadata({"bb", "dd", "ee"}, {"2", "4", "5"})));
   }
+  {
+    KeyValueMetadata metadata(keys, values);
+    ASSERT_DEATH(static_cast<void>(metadata.DeleteMany({0, 0, 5, 2})), "Check failed");
+  }
 }
 
 }  // namespace arrow