Kerala, 25 April (H.S.):In a significant development in the suicide case of third-year BDS student Nithin Raj from Kannur Dental College, the Thalassery Sessions Court has denied anticipatory bail to the first accused, faculty member Dr. M.K. Ram, while granting relief to the second accused, Dr. K.T. Sangeetha Nambiar.

The order was delivered by the Additional Sessions Court-IV in Thalassery on the 16th day following Nithin Raj’s death. The prosecution argued that Dr. Ram had attempted to mislead the court and that allegations of caste-based abuse were prima facie valid. Public Prosecutor K. Ajith Kumar stated that a decision on further legal steps, including an appeal, would be taken after consulting the victim’s family.

According to the prosecution, Dr. Ram had submitted documents claiming he belonged to a Scheduled Caste category in an apparent attempt to avoid charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, the court was informed that records from Karnataka, where he was born, indicated that he belonged to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. The prosecution stressed the seriousness of the offence and opposed the grant of anticipatory bail.

Nithin Raj’s death had triggered widespread outrage, with fellow students accusing Dr. Ram, Head of the Dental Anatomy Department, of subjecting him to sustained mental and physical harassment. Statements given to the police alleged a pattern of intimidation and abuse.

Both Dr. Ram and Dr. Sangeetha had denied any role in the student’s death in their anticipatory bail pleas. However, the Chakkarakkal police had registered a case against them, charging them with abetment of suicide and invoking provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The case continues to draw attention, with investigators probing the circumstances leading to the student’s death.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman