The Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the death of Jishnu Pranoy, on Monday, named the Chairman of Nehru Group as the first accused in the case.
Jishnu, an 18-year-old student of Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre in Thrissur, had killed himself on January 6, following alleged harassment by college authorities.
The investigating team named Chairman P Krishnadas in its charge sheet submitted at the Vadakkanchery chief judicial magistrate’s court in Thrissur.
According to reports, Vice-principal Sakthivel, assistant professor C P Praveen, public relations officer Samjith and exam cell member Vipin and Vimal are the other accused in the case.
Apart from charges of abetment of suicide, the accused has been charged with five other non-bailable offences, including conspiracy and physical assault.
All the accused, including Chairman Krishnadas, are reportedly absconding. The police are said to have launched a manhunt, and the search has been extended to Tamil Nadu.
Several media reports state that the police have found clear indications that Jishnu was falsely accused of copying in a semester examination and subjected to mental and physical harassment later, that ultimately drove him to suicide.
The management hatched a plan to harass Jishnu, after the student raised objections to a number of decisions of the management, say reports.
Responding to television channels, Jishnu's mother Mahija said that the family welcomed the police decision to slap criminal charges on the college management.
After Thrissur range IG confirmed to media that a criminal case of abetment of suicide will be slapped on several officials of the college management, student unions protested in front of the college on Monday, demanding that PRO Samjith should also be charged under the same section.
Meanwhile, several of Jishnu's neighbours from Nadapuram in Kozhikode district under the banner of the action council formed after Jishnu's death, carried out a protest march to the college in Pampady on Monday morning.