Dr N.K. Ram after his arrest by the Crime Branch in Kannur recently.
\| Photo Credit: S.K. Mohan

The Kerala High Court has directed the investigating officer and the Special Judge under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Thalassery, to produce the documents proving that all pre-arrest formalities were followed in the arrest of Dr. M.K. Ram, the prime accused in the death of Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student at Kannur Medical College, Anjarakandy.

The Single Bench of Justice A. Badharudeen observed that “serious allegations" were raised against the investigating officer in the matter of release of the accused and expressed suspicion that top officials were involved in the release of Dr. Ram, to “save” him from detention.

Mr. Ram was arrested on July 19 and later released by the Special Judge on July 20, finding that the grounds of arrest were not communicated to the accused by the investigating agency.

He had earlier pursued anticipatory bails with the Special Judge, the High Court and the Supreme Court, but had been rejected at all levels.

Published - July 22, 2026 02:13 pm IST