'Sorry, sir' moment involving Dr Ram raises fresh questions in Nithin Raj case

KANNUR: A change in the stance of a section of students at Anjarakandy Dental College has added a new dimension to the investigation into the suicide of student Nithin Raj.

When the police brought the first accused, Head of Department Dr M.K. Ram, to the college for evidence collection, a group of female students from the same campus, where strong allegations had earlier been levelled against him, became emotional and were heard saying, "Sorry, Sir," on seeing him near the police vehicle.

The development has raised fresh questions about the case. Following Nithin Raj's death, a majority of students had openly accused Dr Ram of caste-based insults, body shaming and humiliating female students during classes. Statements recorded from four students formed the basis for naming him as the first accused in the case. The students who expressed support for him during the evidence collection, however, were not among those who had earlier made allegations against him.

Management under scrutiny

Although the college management removed Dr Ram while the investigation is underway, it has not publicly adopted a firm position against him, according to indications. There are also suggestions that several faculty members continue to support him. With the management wielding significant influence over matters such as internal assessment marks, the apparent shift in the attitude of some students has prompted further speculation.

Earlier, Nithin Raj's classmate Archana had made serious allegations against Dr Ram, claiming he behaved as though no action would be taken against him even if complaints were filed. She also said many students were afraid to speak out. Another student, Keerthy, had alleged that despite lodging complaints earlier, no action had been taken.

The Crime Branch, which had earlier faced criticism from the court over the pace of the investigation, has since accelerated the probe. A team led by DySP Jeevan George recently collected documents from the principal's office. The mobile phone allegedly used by Dr Ram at the time of Nithin Raj's death had already been taken into custody and will be sent for forensic examination.