Thiruvananthapuram,August 24
The Kerala government has suspended Kannur Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudheer Kallan over serious procedural lapses in the arrest of a doctor accused in the suicide of Nithin Raj, a student of Anjarakandy Dental College.
The action came after the Kerala High Court strongly criticised the Home Department for allowing the officer to remain in service despite the irregularities. The court had termed the delay in initiating disciplinary action against the DySP a failure of the department.
Sudheer Kallan headed the Crime Branch team that arrested Dr M.K. Ram, an accused in the case. However, the officers allegedly failed to properly communicate the grounds of arrest to the accused in writing, as required by law.
The defence brought the procedural violation to the notice of the court, following which a Thalassery court ordered Dr Ram’s release. The investigating agency was subsequently forced to file a fresh application before the court and arrest him again. The sequence of events caused considerable embarrassment to the Home Department and raised questions over the conduct of the investigation.
The High Court had summoned the Crime Branch Superintendent of Police and Sudheer Kallan to explain the lapses. During the proceedings, the court questioned why the DySP had not been suspended despite the gravity of the allegations. It also observed that the officer’s actions appeared to have helped the accused evade lawful custody.
A departmental inquiry subsequently confirmed that serious lapses had occurred during the arrest. Sudheer Kallan and other members of his team were then removed from the investigation before the suspension order was issued.
The probe into Nithin Raj’s death has now been entrusted to a new team headed by Malappuram Crime Branch Superintendent of Police M.P. Mohanachandran. The team will examine the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and the allegations against Dr Ram.
Kerala DySP suspended over lapses in arrest of doctor in student suicide case
Thiruvananthapuram,August 24
The Kerala government has suspended Kannur Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudheer Kallan over serious procedural lapses in the arrest of a doctor accused in the suicide of Nithin Raj, a student of Anjarakandy Dental College.
The action came after the Kerala High Court strongly criticised the Home Department for allowing the officer to remain in service despite the irregularities. The court had termed the delay in initiating disciplinary action against the DySP a failure of the department.
Sudheer Kallan headed the Crime Branch team that arrested Dr M.K. Ram, an accused in the case. However, the officers allegedly failed to properly communicate the grounds of arrest to the accused in writing, as required by law.
The defence brought the procedural violation to the notice of the court, following which a Thalassery court ordered Dr Ram’s release. The investigating agency was subsequently forced to file a fresh application before the court and arrest him again. The sequence of events caused considerable embarrassment to the Home Department and raised questions over the conduct of the investigation.
The High Court had summoned the Crime Branch Superintendent of Police and Sudheer Kallan to explain the lapses. During the proceedings, the court questioned why the DySP had not been suspended despite the gravity of the allegations. It also observed that the officer’s actions appeared to have helped the accused evade lawful custody.
A departmental inquiry subsequently confirmed that serious lapses had occurred during the arrest. Sudheer Kallan and other members of his team were then removed from the investigation before the suspension order was issued.
The probe into Nithin Raj’s death has now been entrusted to a new team headed by Malappuram Crime Branch Superintendent of Police M.P. Mohanachandran. The team will examine the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and the allegations against Dr Ram.
