Former head of the Anatomy department at Kannur Dental College, a private management institution in Anjarakandy, M.K. Ram has approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with the death of first-year BDS student Nithin Raj.

The student was found dead on April 10 on the college campus in a suspected suicide. In his bail plea before the High Court, Dr. Ram denied harassing the student on the basis of his caste or complexion. Denying any role in the student’s death, he contended that the student was under pressure due to ‘harassment by loan app operators in the wake of his alleged failure to repay it. The student had given a teacher’s phone number to the app operators, who in turn began to harass her as well. She subsequently submitted a complaint to the Principal regarding this, naming the student as well.