Two weeks since 15 were held, family of MBBS student who died of ‘ragging’ in Gujarat awaits postmortem report

Inspector PJ Solanki of Balisana police station in Patan told The Indian Express, “The postmortem was conducted by a panel of doctors and the cause of death, along with the histopathology report for Anil Methaniya, is still awaited from the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory).”

The FIR was filed on November 18 on the basis of a complaint by Dr Anilkumar Gokulsingh Bhatija, Additional Dean of GMERS Dharpur MCH, after the medical college’s anti-ragging committee completed its inquiry into the matter.

At Methaniya’s home in Jesada — a small village in Dhrangadhra taluka of Surendranagar — the family is still waiting for an update.

“We were asked to wait for 20 days. We are waiting for the report which is expected around the 10th of this month,” Gautam Methaniya, Anil’s cousin told The Indian Express. With the local police being their only point of contact, Gautam said, “We have had no other communication from either the college or the government or anywhere else.”

Another cousin, Sandeep, said, “We want justice for our son. We want the termination and not suspension of the senior students behind this and they should be banned from taking admission anywhere in the country or abroad.”

The accused include Avdhesh Ashok Patel, Hiren Mansukh Prajapati, Tushar Pira Gohelkar, Prakash Madha Desai, Jaimin Savji Chaudhary, Praveen Varjang Chaudhary, Vivek Gaman Rabari, Rutvik Purshottam Limbadiya, Mehul Pratap Dedhatar, Surjal Ruda Baldaniya, Haresh Gambhir Chavda, Vaibhavkumar Vikaskumar Raval, Parag Bharat Kalsariya, Utpal Sailesh Vasava, and Vishal Lagdhir Chaudhary.

As of December 5, all the accused are in judicial custody, inspector Solanki informed.

According to the FIR, the first year and second year students had gathered “for introductions” in the common room on the second floor of Block B of the boys’ hostel.

At about 12.30 am on November 17, Methaniya fell unconscious and later died. The first-year students subsequently made a representation to the Dean that the seniors had been ragging them by making them stand for 3 hours.

The anti-ragging committee then presented a report which contained statements from 26 witnesses.

The 15 accused were booked under BNS sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 190 (all members of unlawful assembly responsible for crime committed) and 296(b) (obscene acts and songs).

Anil was the youngest among three siblings and had promised to be home soon for the preparations of his sister Nidhi’s wedding in February.