HC to consider today bail plea of accused in Siddharth death case

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court will consider today the bail plea of the accused in the death of J S Siddharth, a student of Pookode Veterinary College. Charges of abetment to suicide, conspiracy, assault and ragging have been imposed against the accused.

The accused claimed that there is no need to remain in custody as the final report has been submitted in the case. The CBI's final report mentioned that Siddharth was a victim of brutal ragging and severe assault.

The court will also consider today the plea filed by Siddharth's mother M R Sheeba, who has joined the party opposing the bail of the accused. My son faced brutal attack. The defendants were not even ready to provide him medical aid. The need for further investigation is also clear in the CBI report. Therefore, Siddharth's mother's demand is to reject the bail application of the accused.

Siddharth was found hanging on February 18 in the bathroom of the hostel room. He had gone to Kozhikode railway station to go home on February 15. Two students called him back on that night. He returned to the hostel at 8 am on February 16. The assault towards him started that night.

Siddharth was brutally beaten by the accused first on top of the hill near the college and then near the water tank. He was later taken to room number 21 of the hostel. The group brutally attacked him even there. He was kicked several times on the stomach and back. Siddharth was permitted to wear only underwear. He was made to stand in the hostel corridor in underwear. Several students have testified that they had heard his screams.

Siddharth was made to wipe the floor. The accused woke up everyone who were sleeping and asked them to come out of their rooms. He was brought to the courtyard outside the hostel. He was in his underwear and then started the public trial. He was made to say that he misbehaved with the girl and was asked to apologize. He was assaulted in the courtyard. He was beaten with a belt, glue gun and a charger cable.

He was made to made to sit in an imaginary chair many times. As he couldn’t sit, he fell on the ground. He was later taken to the dormitory on the first floor and beaten there as well, according to the charge sheet. There is testimony that the next morning Siddharth was lying on the bed crying. He tried to drink the porridge water but could not due to the pain. There was a wound in the throat. Still, no one was ready to show him to a doctor. No one saw Siddharth since dawn on February 18. A student, who went to the washroom found him hanging.