Delhi student suicide case: Two teachers questioned, three more summoned as police expand investigation
New Delhi: The investigation into the suicide of a Class 10 student from St Columba’s School intensified on Monday, with Delhi Police questioning two teachers and summoning three more for further inquiry, officials said.
According to investigators, the two teachers who appeared before the police recorded their statements as part of the expanding probe. Their questioning follows the seizure of the school’s Digital Video Recorder (DVR), which contains CCTV footage from the day the student was allegedly reprimanded after slipping during a drama club performance.
A senior police officer said the footage is being examined frame by frame and is being cross-verified with statements from the boy’s classmates and other students who were present. Police had earlier issued summons to three teachers on Sunday, of whom two complied, the officer added.
More staff members named in the case will be called for questioning in phases once the preliminary assessment of evidence is complete.
The 15-year-old student died by suicide on November 18 after jumping in front of a train at the Rajendra Place metro station. An FIR under IPC sections related to abetment of suicide was registered the same day.
A suicide note recovered from the boy accused four teachers of prolonged mental harassment. He apologised to his family and expressed a desire to donate his organs in the note.
Police have already recorded statements from several classmates and other students as part of the investigation. Following the allegations, four school staff members including the headmistress for classes 4-10 and the coordinator for classes 9-10 were suspended by the institution.
Meanwhile, the student’s father met joint commissioner of police (Transport) Milind Mahadeo Dumbere on Monday to review the progress of the case.
Investigators said they are analysing CCTV footage, school documents and witness testimonies to determine whether the teachers’ conduct amounted to criminal harassment that may have contributed to the boy’s death.
(with inputs from agencies)
