Pinarayi Vijayan: CBI did not delay investigation into Siddharthan’s death

Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said in the Assembly that the government has not attempted to delay the investigation into the death of Pookode Veterinary College student J S Siddharthan. Pinarayi Vijayan asserted that the government and the police had taken efficient and transparent investigation measures, though he admitted that three officials involved in the case showed lack of vigilance.

Three Home Department officials were suspended for lapses in completing the process of handing over the case to the CBI. However, they were reinstated after reviewing their explanations. Vijayan was responding to a question raised by Kalpetta MLA T Siddique on the action taken in the case and allegations of deliberate delay in the CBI investigation.

He said that on receiving the family’s plea, the government immediately agreed to their request to involve the CBI and issued the order the same day. “Can a delay of two or three days by some officials make things worse? Basically, it cannot be changed except by publicity,” he said. The officials were suspended as they were found to have committed some lapse.

Describing it as an unfortunate incident, Vijayan said 20 accused have been arrested in the case based on the investigation. According to the remand report submitted by the police, his classmates and seniors held a public hearing inside the hostel alleging that he had misbehaved with a girl student of the college.

The police have charged the accused under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon), 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act.