New VC of Pookode veterinary varsity resigns, hands over letter to Governor

Thiruvananthapuram: Dr P C Saseendran, the new vice-chancellor of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Pookode, Wayanad resigned from the post on Monday. In his resignation letter to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is also the chancellor of universities, Dr Saseendran stated he was stepping down due to personal reasons.

Hours before Dr Saseendran tendered his resignation, the Governor intervened and cancelled the order reinstating the 33 students who had been suspended earlier in connection with the death of Sidharthan J S, a second-year student of the varsity.  

As per reports, Higher Education Minister R Bindu was not informed of the resignation. Saseendran was appointed as the VC of the University on March 2 by Khan after suspending the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr M R Saseendranath, for gross dereliction of duty on his part during the developments that led to the death of Sidharthan.

Sidharthan was found hanging inside the bathroom of the college hostel on February 18, and his family and friends alleged that he was subjected to cruel ragging by fellow students, including activists of CPM's students' outfit, SFI.

As the death triggered a huge political row in the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a CBI probe into the incident.

Today's development followed allegations by Sidharthan's family that the delay in the CBI investigation into their son's death was aimed at sabotaging the case. The victim's father met Governor Khan at Raj Bhavan, following the controversial action of the management of the state-run college reinstating 33 students who had been suspended earlier in connection with Sidharthan's death.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister and NDA candidate for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, assured expediting the launch of the CBI investigation into the student's death.
(With PTI inputs)