The Keralam Home department committed a grave error in failing to suspend Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudheer Kallen, the Kerala High Court has said.

Mr. Kallen had allegedly neglected procedures while arresting M.K. Ram, the prime accused in the death of R.L. Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student of Anjarakkandy Dental College in Kannur. 

The Single Bench of Justice A. Badharudeen on Monday (August 17, 2026) reserved the case for orders . It orally remarked that the State had not hesitated in suspending a teacher who had included the name of V.D. Savarkar as an answer in an Independence Day quiz, an undersecretary of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation who had allegedly aided a BJP councillor detained under Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act secure leave for six months, or Additional Director General of Police M.R. Ajith Kumar who had been allegedly interfered with the probe into the assault on Youth Congress workers during the Nava Kerala Sadas. The court said the Home department was practising double standards in punishing officials.

The court asked why the Home department was not properly disciplining an officer whose ‘serious lapse’ in arrest procedures, admitted by the department, had led to the release of Dr. Ram.

It stated that it would direct an investigation into the matter.

The court was considering a plea by the parents of the student alleging procedural irregularities in the investigation into their son’s death.

Dr. Ram is in custody at present after the Crime Branch arrested him a second time, following procedure. The court had earlier summoned Mr. Kallan to explain why he had made omissions during the arrest, despite having a service of 22 years.