IIT-Madras suicide: HC suggests transfer of probe to CBI

The Madras High Court on Friday suggested that the investigation into the death of IIT-Madras student Fathima Latheef may be transferred to the CBI, taking into consideration the row and the protests that followed in its wake.

The court made the suggestion while dismissing a plea moved by Loktantrik Janata Dal's Kerala unit seeking a CBI probe into all "14 suicides" reported at IIT-Madras since 2006.

The petitioner had alleged that there was religious discrimination and the girl student faced harassment at the hands of some professors.

Though she named some professors in her cell phone data, till date there was no action taken either by the IIT Dean or police authorities, to arrest them, he contended.

From 2006, 14 students had committed suicide in IIT campus,the petitioner claimed.

They have faced discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, language, he alleged.

Dismissing the plea, the court said "The statistics provided by the government would disclose that between February 2008 and November 2019, 16 students of IIT(M), hostellers had committed suicide, may be on account of stress and other related facts and unable to perform to their full potential. "