Siddharth was found dead in his hostel washroom on 18 February 2024. A formal police probe began only after his family went public, alleging inaction despite earlier complaints of abuse
Published Apr 10, 2025 | 10:15 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 10, 2025 | 10:15 PM
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. (Wikimedia)
Synopsis: Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) has expelled 19 students found guilty in the ragging-related death of Pookode Veterinary College student JS Siddharth. The university informed the Kerala High Court that an internal probe confirmed their involvement. The action came in response to a plea by Siddharth’s mother, who opposed the accused being allowed admission to other institutions
Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) has expelled all 19 students found guilty in connection with the ragging-related death of JS Siddharth, a 20-year-old student at Pookode Veterinary College.
The university informed the Kerala High Court of its decision, stating that an internal investigation had confirmed the involvement of all 19 students in the incident.
The update was submitted in response to a petition filed by Siddharth’s mother, MR Sheeba, who had sought to prevent the accused from being admitted to other educational institutions.
Siddharth was found dead in his hostel washroom on 18 February, 2024. Although complaints had surfaced earlier, police launched a formal investigation only after Siddharth’s family approached the media, alleging inaction.
Subsequent inquiries by both the local police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) revealed that Siddharth had endured prolonged physical and mental torture at the hands of his seniors and classmates.
While the CBI ruled out murder, it charged the accused with ragging, abetment to suicide, assault, and criminal conspiracy. All 19 accused were granted bail following the chargesheet.
According to the police remand report, Siddharth was stripped to his underwear and beaten with a belt and cable wire over alleged misconduct with a female student.
The assault began on the night of 16 February and continued into the early hours of the next day.
His father, Jayaprakash, cited the postmortem report to claim that Siddharth had been severely assaulted over three days and left without food, asserting that his son would not have died by suicide.
Jayaprakash had also met with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, urging him to hand over the case to the CBI, which was eventually done.
The case has since become a flashpoint in the conversation around campus safety and ragging laws in India.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
