Kannur BDS student death: Prime accused Dr. Ram arrested in Karnataka after weeks on the run
Dr. M.K. Ram, a former department head at Kannur Dental College, has been arrested in Karnataka following the suicide of a first-year student, R.L. Nithin Raj. The investigation into the student's death involves allegations of caste-based harassment and predatory lending practices by a loan app.
Why it matters
The case highlights critical issues regarding institutional harassment in educational settings and the growing threat of predatory digital lending apps targeting vulnerable students.
The Crime Branch has arrested Dr. M.K. Ram, the first accused in the abetment of suicide case related to the death of first-year BDS student R.L. Nithin Raj of Kannur Dental College, Anjarakandy, Kerala. Dr. Ram is a former Head of the Dental Anatomy Department at the college.
Crime Branch SP K.V. Venugopal confirmed that Dr. Ram was arrested from Karnataka and brought to Kannur on Sunday (July 20, 2026) night after remaining absconding for weeks following the rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by the Supreme Court. He was brought to the Crime Branch office in Kannur and will be produced before the court after completing legal formalities.
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