Finally, the Kerala Crime Branch recorded the arrest of a senior officer and a colleague in the case of S. Anishya (41), who committed suicide. The lady was found dead hanging in her washroom at Nedungolam, Paravur on 21st January.
The Kollam Deputy Director of Prosecution, Perumbavoor Mudikkal Schoolpadi Puthanpeethika Abdul Jaleel (48), and Anishya’s colleague, Paravur Munsif Magistrate Court Assistant Public Prosecutor Thiruvananthapuram Kilimanoor Malayamadom Aswathi House KR Shyamkrishna (38), were arrested. They were produced before the Paravur Court and released on bail. Both had obtained anticipatory bail from the High Court the other day.
Despite strong evidence emerging that Anishya committed suicide due to brutal mental torture by her colleague and superior, the police allegedly remained silent initially. The accused were not charged with abetment of suicide. It was only an unnatural death.
Aneeshya was mentally harassed by a coworker and her supervisor, according to voicemails she had left for other colleagues. These issues are covered in detail in her well-maintained diary as well. Strangely, according to the police, they could not discover any proof linking these matters to suicide incitement.
Back then, even the statements of the next of kin had not been recorded.
An investigation team headed by Paravoor Circle Inspector (CI) A Nisar confiscated Anishya’s mobile phone, which contained several voice messages. In addition to her friends at work, Anishya had also informed the Paravur Magistrate over the phone regarding the psychological abuse she was subjected to.
Kollam Bar lawyers protested, calling for the judicial officials who pushed Anishya to take her own life to be held accountable. They voiced their displeasure with the probe that the Director General of Prosecution had announced. Additionally, they declared a boycott strike against the accused.
Aneeshya wrote in her 19-page suicide note that she was unable to cope with the events of the meeting called by the Kollam Deputy Director of Prosecution (Jaleel). Her confidential report was read out aloud. This led to a significant portion of the attendees ridiculing her during the meeting.
Anishya alleged mistreatment from the higher-ups. The accused exerted pressure asking her to go on leave and stay away from cases, the note accused.
The Kollam Bar Association petitioned the Chief Minister, requesting that a sitting or retired High Court judge conduct an investigation into Anishya’s death. Additionally, the petition wanted the Paravur police to file an abetment to a suicide charge. The association petitioned the Director General of Prosecution, requesting that the accused be subject to departmental action.
Anisya’s mother approached the High Court requesting that the case regarding her daughter’s death be handed over to the CBI. The government immediately handed over the investigation to a Kollam city crime branch team.
Paravur police initially registered a case of unnatural death. Later, the accused were charged with the crime of abetment of suicide and organized crime.
In early February, Jaleel and Shyamkrishna were suspended pending investigation. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan clarified in the Assembly, in response to the question of CPI MLA GS Jayalal, that both the accused had been suspended.
The Directorate of Prosecution functions under the Department of Home, Government of Kerala. Its principal function is to supervise and streamline the work of the state’s prosecution machinery. The Directorate of Prosecutions supervises and monitors the conduct of prosecution in various courts by the Deputy Directors of Prosecutions, Assistant Public Prosecutors, and Special Public Prosecutors.
