Siddarth Sethia
A city resident has approached the Vidhana Soudha Police seeking registration of an FIR against former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and others,alleging that their actions in connection with the NEET examination controversy amounted to abetment of suicide.
In his complaint dated August 27,complainant T. Narasimha Murthy alleged that question-paper leaks and irregularities in the NEET examination over the past five years had caused severe mental distress among students.
Murthy claimed that 21 students had died by suicide in different parts of the country following the alleged irregularities.
He has enclosed a list containing the names of the 21 students with his complaint and referred to it as Document No. 1.
The complainant alleged that students were subjected to severe mental agony,distress and depression and claimed that the circumstances left them with no alternative.
He alleged that the former Union minister and others had “abetted,goaded and provoked” the students to commit suicide.
The complaint invokes Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023,which deals with abetment of suicide and provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine.
The complainant has also cited Sections 352 and 61(2) of the BNS.
Murthy claimed that there was a prima facie case warranting investigation and urged the police to register an FIR and conduct a detailed probe.
He has also requested the Vidhana Soudha Police to register a Zero FIR and forward the case to the appropriate investigating agency,if required,citing provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The allegations made in the complaint are yet to be established.No conclusion regarding the culpability of the former minister or others can be drawn merely on the basis of the complaint.
