Dental Student Suicide: Kerala Court Grants Bail To Prime Accused College HOD Dr. Kodanda Ram In Abetment Case
The Special Judge under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Thalassery on Wednesday (September 9) granted bail to Dr. M. Kondada Ram, the prime accused in the suicide abetment case of dental college student Nithin Raj
Sri. Manoj M, Special Judge passed the order granting regular bail to Dr. Ram on conditions after noting that he had been custody for more than 45 days.
One of the conditions imposed was that Dr. Ram must not enter inside Kannur Dental College, Anjarakkandy or its premises or contact with any of the students till the conclusion of trial.
"In this case, as per the report filed objecting bail, it is not revealed that the accused had actively instigated Nithin Raj to commit suicide. The allegations are to the effect that due to his constant harassment, humiliation and instigation in public view, the accused committed suicide. The intention of the accused is a mental element which is to be inferred from circumstances.The said matters are questions to be decided in trial. As per the report filed by the Investigating Officer and the case diary, the further incarceration of the accused, who is in judicial custody for the last more than 45 days and whose police custody was also obtained, is not required for the purpose of investigation," the court added.
Considering the contentions of the prosecution and Nithin Raj's father that Dr. Ram was a flight risk, the court was of the view that the same can be eliminated by imposing strict conditions.
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.
Ram's counsel argued that he was innocent of the allegations and that he was subjected to media trial in this case. It was also contended that he did not instigate the suicide and the immediate trigger for the same was when the principal of the college warned Nithin that action would be taken against for involvement in the loan app.
The prosecution vehemently opposed the bail and pointed out that Dr. Ram instigated the suicide due to his constant humiliation and harassment. Moreover, it was pointed out that the chances of the student witnesses being influenced are high since the accused in the college HOD. The prosecution further argued that Dr. Ram was a flight risk and he had earlier absconded at the stage of investigation.
Dr. Ram's pleas for anticipatory bails were earlier rejected by the Special Court, the High Court and the Apex Court. Subsequently, Dr. Ram was arrested but he was released for non-compliance with the mandatory guidelines issued by the Supreme Court. Thereafter, he was re-arrested on July 23 with the permission of the court and he has been judicial custody since then.
The High Court had criticised the manner in which the investigation was conducted in the case and had questioned why the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) who investigated the case was not suspended even though the State Government found serious procedural lapses in the investigation. Subsequently, DySP. Sudheer Kallan was suspended from service.
Case No: Crl.M.P. No.6/2026
Case Title: Dr. M. Kodanda Ram v. State and Ors.
Counsel for the petitioner: M. Kishor Kumar and Aruna B.M.
Counsel for respondents: K. Ajith Kumar - Public prosecutor, A.S. Madhusudanan