Published Apr 17, 2026 | 12:20 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 17, 2026 | 12:20 PM
RL Nithin Raj.
Synopsis: The Chakkarakkal Police Station in Kannur booked a loan application, Insta Pay, for alleged harassment linked to the death of KT Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student who died on 10 April. Probe findings, including analysis of call data records, show that Nithin had taken the loan between December and January and received multiple recovery calls.
The Chakkarakkal Police Station in the Kannur district of Kerala, on Friday, 17 April, booked a loan application, Insta Pay, for alleged harassment linked to the death of RL Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student who allegedly died by suicide on 10 April.
The FIR states that he had borrowed ₹15,000 through the app at an interest rate exceeding 36 percent. Investigators said that on 9 April, agents associated with the app repeatedly called him using threats and emotional pressure to recover the dues.
A case has been registered under Section 308 (extortion) of the BNS along with provisions of the Kerala Money Lenders Act, 1958 and the Kerala Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act, 2012.
Kannur City Police Commissioner Nidhinraj said probe findings, including analysis of call data records, show that Nithin had taken the loan between December and January and received multiple recovery calls.
He added that the agency had also contacted a teacher linked to the student after obtaining the number, which may have added to his mental distress.
Authorities are yet to confirm how the contact was accessed, with forensic analysis underway.
Also Read: Six days on, Kerala BDS student’s death leaves more questions than answers
Nithin, a native of Uzhamalackal in the Thiruvananthapuram district, was found critically injured on 10 April on a gravel patch between the administrative block and hospital premises of Ancharakandi Dental College. He was rushed to the casualty ward but died at around 3.35 pm. Police initially registered a case of unnatural death.
Within two days, following a complaint from his father, Rajan, more serious charges were invoked, including abetment to suicide and provisions under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
In a significant development, the Kannur City Police Commissioner confirmed a possible link to a loan app on 13 April.
However, the family of Nithin had disputed accounts linking his death to harassment from the loan app, asserting that he had already begun repaying the loan and alleging foul play behind the incident.
Rajan told the media that the loan, taken for his mother’s medical treatment while she was hospitalised, was known to the family. He said Nithin had started repaying the amount with their support.
The family also responded to reports that a teacher at Dental College had received threatening calls from loan recovery agents. Rajan maintained that if the teacher had indeed been threatened, she should have alerted the family directly. He alleged that the college authorities are now “trying to escape by creating narratives that do not exist.”
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
