Kerala Dalit dental student suicide case: Prime accused HOD Dr Kodanda Ram granted bail

The victim’s father, Rajan V.N., filed an objection in court. He stated that his son had entered the college through merit. The HOD called him a “slumdog,” taunted him about reservations, and made comments about organ donation if his parents didn’t attend PTA meetings.

Talaseri – The special court in the Kannur Dental College suicide case of Nitin Raj, a Dalit BDS student, has granted regular bail to the accused department head, Dr. M. Kodanda Ram. Judge Manoj M. of the Special SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act court in Talaseri granted bail in an order passed on September 9.

City and Local Guide

Nitin Raj belonged to the Hindu Cheraman community, which falls under the Scheduled Caste category. Nitin committed suicide by jumping from the second floor of the college campus on the afternoon of April 10. The Kannur Crime Branch’s Crime No. 1081/2026 alleges that the accused, including Dr. Ram, publicly humiliated, insulted, and threatened him. The prosecution alleges that this harassment, attributed to his caste, caused severe mental distress and led to the student’s suicide. The case has been registered under Section 108 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Dr. Ram is the Head of the Dental Anatomy Department at Kannur Dental College, Anjarakandy. His anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Special Court, the Kerala High Court, and the Supreme Court. He was released on the grounds that his first arrest violated Supreme Court guidelines. He was re-arrested on July 23rd with the court’s permission. He has since been in judicial custody for over 45 days.

The court clarified in its order that a detailed analysis of evidence is not conducted at the bail stage. Citing the Supreme Court’s Shajan Skaria case regarding Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Act, the court stated that mere insult or threat does not apply to the offence. The victim’s caste must be the cause of the insult. The court found that at this stage, there was no evidence that the accused publicly addressed the victim by their caste, although there were allegations of public ridicule and insult.

South Asians and Migrants

Dr. Ram is the Head of the Dental Anatomy Department at Kannur Dental College, Anjarakandy. His anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Special Court, the Kerala High Court, and the Supreme Court. He was released on the grounds that the first arrest was in violation of Supreme Court guidelines.

Regarding the issue of abetment to suicide (Section 108 CrPC, old Section 306 IPC), the court cited several Supreme Court decisions. These include Pawan Kumar v. State of Himachal Pradesh, M. Mohan v. State, Jaideepsinh Chavda and Ramesh Kumar. The court held that mere harassment or utterances made in anger are not sufficient to constitute abetment. Clear intent, active involvement, and actions that left the victim with no option but to commit suicide must be demonstrated. These questions will be determined at trial.

Crime and Justice

Based on the investigating officer’s report and the case diary, the court held that further custody was not necessary for the investigation. The police had already conducted interrogations after taking custody. The court reiterated the principle that “bail is the rule, jail is the exception” and cited the Supreme Court’s decisions in Jalaluddin Khan and Manish Sisodia.

The victim’s father, Rajan V.N., filed a complaint with the court. He stated that his son had entered the college on merit. The Principal called him a “slumdog,” taunted him about reservations, and made comments about organ donation if his parents did not attend PTA meetings. The father alleges that the investigation is not being conducted impartially, and the High Court has also expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation. The former investigating officer was also suspended.

The accused argued that Nitin Raj was weak in studies, was under pressure from loan apps, and the incident occurred after a consultation in the principal’s cabin on April 10th. They claimed that Dr. Ram’s last contact with them was on March 13th.

The court granted bail on the following conditions:

• A bond of Rs. 5 lakh and two sureties (one a close relative)

Court and Judiciary

• Appearance before the investigating officer every Wednesday from 9 to 10 am (for six months or until the charge sheet is filed)
• Complete prohibition on entering the Kannur Dental College campus or contacting students until the trial is over
• Not influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence
• Not committing any new crime while on bail

If the condition is violated, the concerned police station officer can approach the court to revoke the bail.

The case is still under investigation. The court reiterated that this order is not a final verdict on the merits. Nitin Raj’s death has rekindled questions about caste-based harassment and institutional accountability on college campuses.

Geetha Sunil Pillai

Courtesy: Hindi News