Cyberabad police close Rohith Vemula case; UoH students condemn

HYDERABAD: In a significant development, Cyberabad police closed the case regarding the death of Rohith Vemula from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Friday.

According to the Gachibowli police, the case was reportedly closed due to lack of evidence. A final report has been filed in Telangana High Court. Ph.D scholar Rohith Vemula died by suicide on January 17, 2016, in his friend's hostel room within the premises of the University of Hyderabad.

His death in 2016 sparked nationwide students protests demanding protection for students from marginalised groups in academic institutions in the country.

Several protests were held by the UoH student unions, demanding action against the former UoH Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao Podile, University administration, and then HRD minister Smriti Irani.

A case was registered at Gachibowli police station under the Prevention of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Atrocities Act regarding the incident.

The Telangana police have submitted a report to the High Court stating that the late Rohit Vemula, who died by suicide at the University of Hyderabad, was not affiliated with the Scheduled Caste. As a PhD scholar, there appears to be no clear reason for his suicide.

In its report, the police concluded that Union Minister Smriti Irani, Bandaru Dattatreya, and VC Apparao were not involved in the incident. Furthermore, it was revealed that Rohit Vemula feared that his false claim of belonging to the SC category would jeopardise his previous academic credentials. Without this concern, the police found no apparent motive for his drastic action. The case has been closed by the Telangana police under the newly formed Congress Government.

However, questions have arisen following the closure of the case under the Congress government in Telangana, especially considering Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's prior extensive support for the UoH student union's quest for justice for Rohit Vemula. Gandhi had visited the University of Hyderabad on January 30, 2016, on the occasion of Rohith Vemula's birth anniversary, following his demise on January 16, 2024.

During his visit, Rahul Gandhi stood in solidarity with the protesting students, spending the night with them at Velivada and condemned Rohit Vemula's death. He said, "Even though they say Rohith Vemula committed suicide, I call it murder. He was murdered by the indignities he suffered. He was killed because he was a Dalit."

Given Rahul Gandhi's public stance on the matter, the closure of the case by the Telangana police under the Congress government after eight years raises questions about the lack of justice served to him and his family.

UoH students' union condemns closure report on Rohith Vemula's case

The UoH Students' Union has called for a protest to condemn the closure report issued by the Telangana police regarding the case filed following the alleged institutional murder of Rohith Vemula.

The students allege that justice has been denied for eight years. They plan to march from Velivada (North Shopcom), where Rohith Vemula spent his last days, as a mark of remembrance.