Overview
- The prime accused, Dr M. K. Ram, surrendered to the Crime Branch and was produced and remanded after a fresh arrest that followed the Special Court’s earlier release; the High Court has been hearing the case this week, most recently on Friday, July 24.
- The Thalassery Special Court set Dr Ram free after finding the initial arrest did not comply with Supreme Court rules because the written grounds of arrest were not properly given to him.
- Justice A. Badharudeen of the Kerala High Court sharply questioned investigating officers and flagged a possible effort by senior police to shield the accused, ordering officers to produce files and warning of disciplinary action or a court-ordered inquiry.
- The state Home Department has reconstituted the probe under SP M. P. Mohanachandran with DySP Jeevan George as the new investigating officer, who will re-record witness statements and re-examine evidence.
- The case stems from the April 10 death of first-year BDS student Nithin Raj, whose family alleges caste-based harassment by faculty, and the litigation has exposed a recurring problem where failure to furnish written arrest grounds can undo custody and weaken sensitive investigations.