The Kerala High Court criticized the police for errors in the arrest of the main suspect in the Nithin Raj suicide case. Justice A. Badharudeen questioned Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudheer Kallan about the procedural failures in the arrest of Dr. M. Kodanda Ram, a professor at Kannur Dental College and the key accused. The court emphasized the importance of thorough investigations in sensitive cases to prevent any mistakes that could aid the accused.
The court raised concerns about potential deliberate lapses and questioned the supervisory role played by the DySP during the investigation. Justice Badharudeen even asked if there was an agenda to discredit the Home Department or seek revenge against the government. The DySP denied any such intentions, stating, “Nothing like that, Your Lordship.”
Nithin Raj’s parents had filed a petition seeking clarification on the Supreme Court’s directive regarding informing the accused of the grounds of arrest. Dr. Kodanda Ram was initially arrested in connection with Nithin Raj’s death, but a trial court deemed the arrest illegal due to the failure to provide the grounds of arrest as required by law. The professor was rearrested after rectifying this procedural error.
During the hearing, the High Court questioned the investigating officer on why such a fundamental lapse occurred, highlighting the importance of transparency and fairness in investigations. The court reminded the officer of his duty to ensure a just investigation without bias towards either party. It also mentioned that disciplinary actions against responsible officers had been previously requested and awaited the outcomes before further proceedings in two weeks.
