Bengaluru: Police book 6 IAF officers for murder of student

The police case

Jha’s brother registered a police complaint in the early hours of Thursday, in which they named six IAF officers.

The police registered a case against these IAF officers — who are said to be of air commodore, group captain, and wing commander ranks — following the complaint, booking them under Sections 34 (criminal act by several persons with a common intention) and 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC.

In the police complaint, the brother also alleged that the six individuals indulged in tampering with the evidence connected to Jha’s death.

Meanwhile, Jha left behind a seven-page suicide note, which was found later, naming the same six people as responsible for his suicide.

A senior officer from the Gangammanagudi Police Station told South First that Jha’s body had been sent for a post-mortem examination. The results, which are expected on Monday, would determine whether he had died by suicide or had been murdered. The suspects would be arrested in the latter case.

Family alleges foul play

Local reports quoted the victim’s cousin Richa Thakur as saying that he was “under severe mental trauma as disciplinary action was taken against him”.

She added: “Ankit told me that he was being forced to sign certain documents. We suspect he must have died around 4.30 pm on Wednesday after sending a message to his brother Aman, who was in Kochi.”

She also claimed: “The AFTC officials did not inform us about the death. After repeated phone calls went unanswered, we went there by 7 pm, and learnt about his death.”