Thiruvananthapuram, 29 April (H.S.):The investigation into the death of BDS student Nithin Raj from Kannur Dental College at Ancharakandi has been transferred to the State Crime Branch, following mounting pressure from the family and concerns over the pace of the local police probe.
The State Police Chief issued orders handing over two cases to the Crime Branch — the unnatural death case registered after the incident and a separate case filed against a loan app based on a complaint by a faculty member. The move comes after the Kannur City Police Commissioner recommended that both cases be transferred for a more comprehensive and impartial investigation.
Nithin Raj’s family had recently met the Director General of Police, expressing serious concerns over the handling of the case. They pointed out that even 18 days after Nithin’s death, the prime accused, Dr. M.K. Ram, had not been arrested. The family has alleged that the police deliberately shifted focus to the loan app case to shield the accused and suppress allegations of caste-based harassment.
Dr. Ram, the first accused in the case, has been charged with abetment of suicide. His anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Thalassery Additional District and Sessions Court. He has since approached the High Court for relief and is believed to have fled to his native Telangana.
According to the complaint, Nithin had faced caste-based abuse and sustained mental harassment from Dr. Ram, which allegedly led to his suicide. He died on April 10 after jumping from a college building. The family claims that he had previously spoken about the harassment by the Head of Department.
Two faculty members, Dr. M.K. Ram and Dr. Sangeetha Nambiar, have been named as accused. Both were suspended by the college management, and Dr. Ram was subsequently dismissed.
Meanwhile, cyber police have arrested three individuals linked to a loan app accused of threatening Nithin and a faculty member. The accused — Rishikesh Tiwari from Ghaziabad, Prashant Kheval (28) from Uttar Pradesh, and Prakash Jey from Faridabad — were apprehended following raids at a Noida-based firm named “Instant Fund,” where SIM boxes and multiple SIM cards were seized.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
