The Kerala Crime Branch has taken over the investigation into the death of Nithin Raj, a first-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student at a private dental college in Anjarakandy, Kannur district. Raj was found critically injured after falling from a building on April 10 and later died from his injuries. Initially, the Kannur police registered a case of unnatural death but later charged two faculty members, Dr. Ram and Dr. Sangeetha Nambiar, with abetment of suicide under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. This decision followed allegations from Raj's family that he faced caste and complexion-based harassment. The investigation's transfer to the Crime Branch comes after a statewide hartal organized by various Dalit outfits, demanding a thorough probe and accountability for those responsible for Raj's death. The Director General of Police (DGP) noted the family's concerns regarding the initial investigation, prompting the need for a more comprehensive inquiry.