Kerala govt announces CBI probe into death of veterinary student in Wayanad

KERALA Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday decided to refer to the CBI the investigation into the death of a Veterinary University student.

A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that the father and relatives of the student — 20-year-old Sidharthan J S — came to meet Vijayan and demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The chief minister told them that the police investigation was going on and all the accused had already been arrested through a flawless and fair probe, the statement said.

However, as the victim’s mother has also submitted a petition seeking a CBI probe, Vijayan informed the family that he has decided to leave the investigation of the case to the CBI, respecting their sentiments, it said.

The statement came shortly after the victim’s father told reporters here that Vijayan assured him that the case would be handed over to the CBI if required.

The father said that he met the chief minister today and sought a CBI probe into the death of his son who was found hanging inside the bathroom of the college hostel on February 18.

“The CM said that if a CBI probe is required, then it will be ordered. He has given me that assurance,” the victim’s father said.

He also said that he informed Vijayan that given the injuries suffered by his son, as noted in the post-mortem report, many doctors have said that Sidharthan could not have even stood up to hang himself.

“Therefore, I told the CM that my son was killed and it was not a suicide,” he said.

He also told reporters that the mere suspension of the Dean of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Pookode in Wayanad district of the state and the assistant warden of the hostel, where Sidharthan died, was not enough.

“They should be dismissed from service and should also face legal action,” he demanded.

He said that if the probe is handed over to the CBI, he has a lot more to tell that agency about the dean and the assistant warden.