Chennai, Feb 18 (BPNS)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that probed the death of IIT- Madras student Fathima Latheef has concluded that the death of the student was due to suicide. The agency also in its report stated that there was no harassment of her by the College professors.

The premier investigating agency in its final report said that the girl took the extreme step due to homesickness. The agency in its report also recorded that the girl had some psychological issues.

It may be noted that Fathima Latheef from Kollam joined IIT- Madras in its humanities stream in July 2019 and was doing MA Humanities.

She was found dead in her room no 349 at Sarayu hostel on the campus on November 9, 2019.

A special investigation team of the Tamil Nadu police was constituted to probe her death after her family complained that she was driven to suicide. The Additional Commission of Police, Tamil Nadu, S. Easwaramoorthy in his report in 2019 stated that Fathima died by suicide and that she had homesickness and was facing some psychological issues which is now corroborated by the CBI.

The Kotturpuram police of Chennai initially commenced an investigation of the case and after retrieving a suicide note from her telephone, her father Latheef alleged that she was subject to mental torture and harassment leading her to take her life.

Fathima’s father Latheef met the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and there were student protests on the College campus. The state government then transferred the case to the Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch who reported that it was a case of suicide and the case was then handed over to the CBI in December 2019.

The family of Fathima Latheef said that they are not satisfied with the CBI report and said that they would file objections to the 2000 page report presented by the CBI.

Advocate Mohammed Shah P.A., Counsel for Fathima’s family while speaking to media persons said, “ We have serious objections to the CBI’s final report stating that it was suicide. The court has now issued notices to the parents of the victim and the matter is now posted for hearing on February 28. We will file strong objections pointing out to certain serious lapses in the investigation.”

He said that the CBI does not have an answer as to why Fathima had in her suicide note mentioned the name of a professor on harassing her just before her death. Advocate Mohammed Shah said, “ The warden seems to be highly enthusiastic to explain to the CBI that Fathima had homesickness and CBI had taken his statement on face value. The CBI concludes that Fathima is having psychological issues. We want the CBI to answer as to why the girl did not mention the name of any other professors except one. We will raise this issue during the judicial hearing.”