BackLAW
Court denies anticipatory bail to doctor in Kannur dental student death case
A Kannur court rejected anticipatory bail for Dr M K Ram, while granting it to Dr Sangeetha Nambiar, in connection with the death of a Kannur Dental College student. The case involves allegations of harassment based on caste and complexion, and a related cyber police probe into loan-app harassment.
Why It Matters
The ruling highlights campus accountability in harassment allegations and intersects with broader concerns about caste-based bias and student welfare in medical institutions.
Timeline
4 Events
Court denies anticipatory bail to Ram; grants bail to Nambiar
April 25, 2026
In the hearing, the court rejected Ram's anticipatory bail plea while allowing Nambiar's petition. Ram denied harassing Raj on caste or complexion and claimed that Raj was weak in studies and under pressure due to loan app operators; Nambiar maintained she had no involvement.
Death of Nithin Raj and initial police registration of case
April 10, 2026
First-year BDS student Nithin Raj was found dead on the Kannur Dental College campus on April 10, 2026, in a suspected suicide. Police initially registered a case of unnatural death.
Cyber Police registers separate case over loan-app harassment
April 2026
Kannur Cyber Police registered a separate case after it emerged that Raj had borrowed money through a loan app and that its operators had contacted his teacher, who then complained to college authorities.
Arraignment of Ram and Nambiar; anticipatory bail sought
April 2026
Police later arraigned prime accused Dr M K Ram and Dr Sangeetha Nambiar on charges of abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST Act after Raj's family alleged harassment by faculty members on grounds of caste and complexion. Ram and Nambiar went into hiding and approached the court seeking anticipatory bail.