The Kerala High Court has denied the anticipatory bail application of Dr. M Kodanda Ram, a professor at Kannur Dental College, who is implicated in the tragic suicide of a Dalit student, Nithin Raj. Justice A Badharudeen presided over the matter, delivering the decision on Friday.
Background of the Case
Nithin Raj, a student at the dental college, took his own life on April 10 by jumping from a building near the institution. Prior to his death, it is alleged that Raj was subjected to caste-based harassment by faculty members, including Dr. Ram, who heads the department.
Legal Proceedings
Based on a complaint filed by Nithin Raj’s father, Dr. Ram, along with two other staff members, has been charged with abetment of suicide and offenses under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Dr. Ram sought anticipatory bail after a sessions court denied his application while granting relief to another accused, Dr. Sangeetha Nambiar, on April 25.
Arguments and Court Observations
The State opposed Dr. Ram’s plea for bail, with the Public Prosecutor presenting statements from two students that painted a picture of Dr. Ram’s inappropriate behavior and alleged instigation of harassment against the deceased. The court took note of the recurring allegations of harassment within medical colleges and suggested the formation of a committee to investigate such complaints and propose solutions.
Dr. Ram’s defense team contested the claims of caste-based harassment, bringing forward CCTV footage from the college principal’s room and documents indicating potential loan recovery harassment faced by Nithin Raj.
More Read
Court’s Decision
After evaluating the arguments from both sides, Justice A Badharudeen dismissed Dr. Ram’s anticipatory bail plea. The professor’s legal representation included advocates S Rajeev, V Vinay, MS Aneer, Anilkumar CR, Sarath KP, Dipa V, KS Kiran Krishnan, Akash Cherian Thomas, Azad Sunil, TP Aravind, Maheswar Padickal, Akshara S, and Nivedita Rajeev.
