CBI to take over probe into Kerala veterinary student’s death

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is poised to assume control of the investigation into the death of 20-year-old veterinary student Sidharthan J S. His body was discovered hanging inside the bathroom of the college hostel in Kerala’s Wayanad district on February 18. Allegations from Sidharthan’s family, claiming he was subjected to ragging by fellow students, including activists of CPI-M’s students’ wing SFI, have prompted demands for a CBI inquiry. Officials stated that the agency is awaiting a reference from the Centre. Once received, the CBI will re-register the FIR filed by Kerala Police as its own case. Subsequently, a team of CBI officials, along with forensic experts, will visit the state to obtain documents from local police and initiate the investigation. In response to the political uproar, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured a CBI probe on March 9. However, weeks after the assurance, the opposition Congress and BJP, along with Sidharthan’s family, alleged that necessary files had not been handed over to the CBI by the government. Recently, the Kerala government suspended three Home Department employees for alleged “dereliction and unresponsiveness” in providing documents to the CBI. Despite the suspension order, the government clarified that the case was handed over to the central agency on March 9, but the necessary documents were submitted only on March 26. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and the Congress-led UDF have pledged to expedite the CBI investigation. Meanwhile, allegations of government and police involvement in delaying the transfer of the case and protecting the perpetrators have surfaced, with accusations of evidence tampering. The victim’s father, in a meeting with Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, expressed concern over his son’s alleged harassment prior to his death. Allegations were made against senior SFI leaders, with claims of their awareness of the ongoing harassment at the college. Furthermore, controversy arose over the college’s reinstatement of 33 suspended students connected to the case. This decision was revoked after intervention by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, the university’s chancellor. Source: PTI Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Posted in Magazine