Charges against former Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, BJP leader N Ramachandra Rao and University of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podille could be dropped, as the Cyberabad police, a police commissionerate in Hyderabad has received a report from the Guntur revenue department stating that Rohith Vemula isn’t a Dalit.
Criminal cases against the politicians and VC were filed for abetment of suicide and under the SC/ST atrocities Act, accusing them of driving Rohith to suicide.
Although the police have received the report disapproving that Rohith was a Dalit, Cyberabad commissioner said that they are awaiting a legal opinion in the case.
Explaining the reasons for the slow progress in the suicide of Rohith, Cyberabad commissioner, Sandeep Shandila said, “We had to get a report from the Revenue Department as to whether he belonged to the SC category or not. Because of that our investigation got delayed. You cannot blame us (for the delay)," reported PTI.
Shandila further said that they have written to the police’s legal adviser for clarification.
“Once that comes, this case will see finalisation," he said.
Rohith, a PhD student from University of Hyderabad committed suicide in January 2016, following his expulsion from hostel along with four other Dalit students belonging to Ambedkar Students Association (ASA). Rohith and his friends were found guilty by the executive committee in the assault of former ABVP president N Susheel Kumar.
Rohith and his four friends allegedly assaulted Susheel for calling the ASA members as goons on his Facebook.
Later, Susheel’s brother a BJP leader, wrote to Bandaru Dattatreya, the former Union Labour Minister from Hyderabad stating that ASA is involved in ‘casteist’ and ‘anti-national’ activities, after they were accused of partaking in demonstrating against the death of Yakub Memon, a convicted terrorist.
Rohith committed suicide on January 17. His death sparked a nation-wide outrage against the BJP government.