Chargesheet filed in shocking self-immolation case of college student alleging sexual harassment

Balasore: The crime branch on Tuesday filed a chargesheet in the SDJM court here in connection with the self-immolation case of a 20-year-old college student.The incident had sent shockwaves across the state after the second-year integrated BEd student, alleging sexual harassment and denial of justice, set herself on fire on July 12 and succumbed to her injuries on July 14 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.Sources said the crime branch’s three-member team, led by DSP Iman Kalyan Nayak, submitted the chargesheet. The document spans 349 pages and includes statements from 120 witnesses. Initially, the charges were filed against the head of the department (HoD) and former college principal.Crime branch officers clarified that the chargesheet was filed on priority as the 60-day period of HoD’s arrest was nearing completion. The chargesheet against the other two accused, both students, will be filed later.Nayak of the Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW&CW) said, “The chargesheet against the remaining two accused will be submitted in the next phase as the investigation is still underway.”