JS Sidharthan
The Government of Kerala (GoK) has finally handed over the documents related to the murder of JS Sidharthan, a second-year student at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Pookkode, Wayanad, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi. This development comes closely following the expression of acute dissatisfaction by Jayaprakash, the father of the deceased, regarding the slow progress in transferring the case to the CBI. Jayaprakash even hinted at staging a protest in front of the Chief Minister’s official residence if necessary steps were not taken promptly.
The delay in expediting the CBI inquiry has raised concerns about the potential destruction of evidence and has left Sidharthan’s family feeling betrayed. Despite Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordering a CBI inquiry into the tragic death after Jayaprakash’s meeting with him on March 9, subsequent actions were not taken swiftly, leading to public outcry and suspicions regarding political motivations amid the impending parliamentary elections. It was alleged that the government was attempting to quell protests and avoid the pro-active intervention of the Governor.
The revelation that the communication to the CBI was made only on March 16, despite the CM’s directive earlier, has fueled further criticism of the state government’s handling of the case.
Amid mounting pressure from the family of J.S. Sidharthan and opposition parties including the Congress, BJP, and ABVP, the Government of Kerala has finally dispatched a police officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent (Dy. SP) to deliver the case documents to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Delhi. The move comes after persistent demands for a CBI inquiry into the murder case, as the accused are allegedly affiliated with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), which holds the Home Ministry under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The intervention of Jayaprakash, Sidharthan’s father, along with the support of BJP leaders and Union Ministers V. Muraleedharan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, candidates from Attingal and Thiruvananthapuram constituencies respectively, played a crucial role in pushing for the transfer of the case to the CBI.
The delay in handing over the case to the CBI has been met with skepticism and criticism, with various excuses, including the translation of documents, being cited by the state government. However, these explanations were deemed inadequate, particularly given Kerala’s high literacy rate.
Additionally, the suspension of thirty-three students, most of whom are allegedly affiliated with the SFI, was initially revoked but reinstated following the strong stance of Governor Dr. Arif Mohammed Khan, the Chancellor of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The Vice-Chancellor, Dr. P.C. Shasheendran, who was responsible for the suspension’s cancellation, promptly resigned. In his place, Dr. K.S. Anil has been appointed as the new VC.
The relaxation of the suspension for the thirty-three students is expected to benefit the other accused in the case. The involvement of Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar was pivotal in the latest developments, with Jayaprakash meeting both the Governor and Chandrasekhar to address the delays in handing over the case to the CBI.
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