Dr Ram arrested, released, then retaken: Dramatic turn in Dental student Nithin Raj suicide case

KANNUR: Dr. Ram, the primary suspect in the suicide case of Anjarakkandi Dental College student Nithin Raj, was arrested by the Crime Branch early Monday following a three-month manhunt. The arrest triggered dramatic scenes at the Thalassery Principal Sessions Court, where the accused was briefly released due to procedural lapses, only to be taken back into custody by police officers moments later on the court premises.

The situation escalated after the court ordered his release, citing irregularities in the arrest procedure. Police officers immediately intercepted Dr. Ram as he left the courtroom. The accused’s defence counsel, M. Kishore Kumar, alleged that the police manhandled the accused’s wife and sister during the operation, labelling the second apprehension as illegal. By 10 p.m., the police issued a formal notice to the accused and released him.

The Crime Branch team, led by Kannur Crime Branch SP K.V. Venugopal, finally apprehended the suspect in Paripally, Kodagu, following a widespread search operation. Investigators had spent months tracking leads across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The suspect had managed to evade capture by discarding his mobile phone, growing a beard, and frequently changing his location, relying on his brother—a local TDP leader—for shelter. Police eventually closed in on him by monitoring his family's communication records.

During questioning, Dr. Ram denied allegations of mental or caste-based harassment. While he acknowledged scolding students for poor academic performance in his capacity as the department head, he maintained that the allegations of discrimination were baseless.
The accused had previously sought relief through the courts, but his anticipatory bail applications were rejected by both the Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court. The second accused in the case, Dr. Sangeetha Nambiar, had been granted anticipatory bail earlier in the proceedings.

Nithin Raj, a native of Uzhamalakkal in Aryanad, Thiruvananthapuram, died by suicide on April 10 after jumping from the dental college building. His family alleged that persistent caste-based abuse by the teachers drove the student to take his own life. SI Sreejith Koderi recorded the arrest as the investigation continues.