Kochi, June 19 (IANS). The Kerala High Court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Dr. M. Kodanda Ram, Head of the Department, Kannur Dental College. Dr Ram is accused of verbally harassing Dalit student Nitin Raj, who died by suicide in April.
Justice A. Badruddin delivered the judgment dismissing the petition filed by Dr Ram, the main accused in the dental student’s death case.
Nitin Raj, a dental college student, allegedly committed suicide by jumping from a building near the college on April 10.
His family had alleged that he was subjected to caste-based harassment and mental cruelty by faculty members before his death.
Based on the complaint lodged by his father, the police registered a case of abetment of suicide and offenses under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, against Dr Ram and two other staff members.
Dr Ram had earlier filed a petition for anticipatory bail in the sessions court along with another accused faculty member, Dr Sangeeta Nambiar.
The Sessions Court granted bail to Dr. Nambiar on April 25, but rejected Dr. Ram’s plea. Now he has moved the High Court.
Opposing the bail plea, the State argued that the statements given by the two students indicated inappropriate behavior towards students by Dr Ram.
The prosecution also said that the professor had allegedly instigated other teachers to harass Nitin Raj.
During the hearing, the High Court expressed concern over the repeated complaints of harassment coming from medical colleges and said the government should consider constituting a committee to examine such complaints and suggest corrective measures.
However, Dr Ram’s lawyer denied the allegations of caste-based harassment and argued that there were other factors associated with the student’s ordeal.
The defense cited CCTV footage showing Nitin Raj in the college principal’s room before his death and also presented documents related to alleged loan recovery pressure on the student.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court refused to grant protection from arrest to Dr. Ram.
–IANS
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