Dental Student Suicide: Kerala High Court Issues Notice On College HOD's Appeal For Anticipatory Bail In Abetment FIR

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (May 5) issued notice on the criminal appeal preferred by Dr. M. Kodanda Ram, who is arrayed as the prime accused in the suicide abetment case of Dental College student Nithin Raj.

The appeal has been filed against the order of the Sessions Court, Thalassery, which had dismissed his bail application while granting pre-arrest bail to the second accused Dr. Sangeetha Nambiar.

Dr. Ram is the Head of Department of Dental Anatomy at Kannur Dental College where Nithin Raj was enrolled in and Dr. Nambiar Sangeetha is a professor there.

When the matter came up for consideration today, the vacation bench of Justice P.V. Balakrishnan admitted the appeal and issued notice to the parties.

The public prosecutor took notice on behalf of the State and the Station House Officer. Notice has been issued to the de facto complainant, Nithin's mother.

The prosecution allegation is that the deceased student committed suicide due to the constant mental harassment of Dr. Ram. It is further alleged that Dr. Ram humiliated the deceased in front of his classmates, knowing fully well that he was a member of the Scheduled Caste community.

The offences alleged against him are those under Section 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(2)(v) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Recently, the High Court had initiated a suo motu case over instances of violence reported during the hartal called over Nithin's death.

The appeal is moved by Advocates S. Rajeev, V. Vinay, M.S. Aneer, Anilkumar C.R., Sarath K.P., Dipa V., K.S. Kiran Krishnan, Akash Cherian Thomas, Azad Sunil, T.P. Aravind, Maheswar Padickal, Akshara S. and Nivedita Rajeev.

Case No: Crl.A 609/ 2026

Case Title: Dr. M.Kodanda Ram v. State and Ors.