Nithin Raj death: Kerala HC reserves order on teacher’s pre-arrest bail plea

Kochi: Kerala high court on Friday reserved its order on a pre-arrest bail petition filed by Kodanda Ram, head of department of dental anatomy at Anjarakandy Dental College, Kannur, in connection with a case related to the alleged abetment of the suicide of BDS student Nithin Raj.The bench of Justice A Badharudeen further directed the investigating officer to produce the case diary along with the FSL report concerning the alleged suicide for deciding the petition. Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student, died on April 10 after sustaining severe injuries in a fall from a college building. The police subsequently registered a case based on a complaint filed by his family, alleging that Ram and other faculty members had subjected him to caste-based discrimination and harassment, which allegedly drove him to suicide.Ram contended that he had not instigated any act that led to the student’s suicide and claimed that the reason behind the suicide was pressure from persons from whom the student had allegedly availed a financial loan. The petition further stated that Raj had obtained the loan through a mobile application and had provided the contact number of a teacher to the lenders. Following a default in repayment, the lenders allegedly contacted the teacher repeatedly, prompting her to lodge a complaint with the principal.

Based on the teacher’s complaint, Raj was summoned to the principal’s office, questioned, and it was decided to file a formal complaint. Ram further claimed that no caste-based discrimination or harassment, as alleged in the complaint, had occurred.Media helps bring illegalities to light: HCWhile addressing allegations of a media trial in the case, HC orally observed that the media plays a vital role in society. Their involvement has brought many illegalities to light. It is, in a way, a form of social service aimed at ensuring that things are done properly. Some shortcomings may occur, as they do in every field. We cannot rule out the role of the media. However, courts decide cases based on the materials and facts available on record and are not guided by the media, HC orally observed.