Kerala HC seeks state's response on bail plea of former HoD in BDS student death case

Ernakulam: The Kerala High Court recently sought the State Government's response to the anticipatory bail plea filed by the former Head of the Anatomy Department at Kannur Dental College, who is the prime accused in the death of a first-year BDS student.

Issuing notice to the State Government and other parties, Justice P V Balakrishnan also directed notice to the student's mother and posted the matter for hearing on May 15.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Kannur District and Principal Sessions Court had rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the former HoD while granting relief to another faculty member in the case.

Also read- Kannur dental college BDS death case: Court denies bail to Anatomy HoD, grants relief to another faculty

The student died on April 10 after allegedly falling from a college building under suspicious circumstances. He was found critically injured on a stone-paved area between the administrative block and the hospital building at around 1:30 pm. Though he was rushed to the medical college hospital for treatment, he later succumbed to his injuries.

The student's parents alleged that he was subjected to emotional and verbal harassment by faculty members over his dark complexion and poor family background. According to the family, teachers allegedly used derogatory remarks such as "slum dog" and "rabid dog" against him.

Following the incident, the Head of the Dental Anatomy Department was expelled from the college.

While police initially registered a case of unnatural death, the charges were later altered to abetment of suicide and offences under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after the family alleged caste-based harassment.

Meanwhile, Kannur Cyber Police registered a separate case after it emerged that the student had allegedly borrowed money through a loan application. The app operators reportedly contacted one of his teachers, who later informed the college authorities.

After the student's death, both accused doctors went into hiding and approached the court seeking anticipatory bail.

During the hearing before the sessions court, the former HoD denied allegations of caste-based or racial harassment. He claimed that the student was "weak in studies" and that he had only advised him to improve, as his internal marks were very low. The doctor further claimed that he was under pressure due to harassment by loan app operators and denied any role in the student’s death.

The college authorities had questioned the student over that, the doctor's plea said. It was shortly after this interaction that the student allegedly committed suicide, he added, reports Bar and Bench

Also read- BDS student death case: White coat protest erupts at Kannur dental college, HoD Dental Anatomy expelled