Kannur: An interim bail petition was filed on Friday by the two faculty members accused in connection with the death of a first-year BDS student at a private dental college in Anjarakandy. The petition was moved by Dental Anatomy Department Head Dr M K Ram and Associate Professor K T Dr Sangeetha Nambiar, who had earlier submitted anticipatory bail applications before the Thalassery court. In their plea, they maintained that they had no role in the student’s death.

Raj (22), identified as Nithin Raj R L, was later found critically injured after falling from a building on April 10 and succumbed to his injuries.

In a parallel development, police have registered a case of extortion against an online loan app on Friday for allegedly mentally harassing and intimidating Raj, leading to his death, officials said. The app is accused of using intimidation tactics to recover a loan disbursed to him.

The case was registered at Chakkarakkallu police station based on a complaint filed by the cyber cell on April 16, nearly a week after the student’s death. The FIR invokes section 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with provisions of the Kerala Money Lenders Act and the Kerala Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act.

According to the FIR, a loan of Rs 15,000 was disbursed to Raj in January through the app at an interest rate of 36 per cent, allegedly in violation of applicable laws. From April 9 onwards, those operating the app repeatedly contacted him to recover the dues and are alleged to have mentally harassed and intimidated him.

Separately, police have already booked Dr Ram and Dr Nambiar for abetment of suicide under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following allegations of caste and complexion-based harassment. The college management dismissed Dr Ram on Thursday after student protests.

Multiple agencies, including the Kerala SC/ST Commission, the State Human Rights Commission, the State Youth Commission, the Kerala University of Health Sciences and the Medical Education Department, are conducting parallel inquiries. Both accused faculty members remain untraced.