Loharu suicide case: No matter how influential, culprits won't be spared, says minister

The Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishna Kumar Bedi, visited the family of Diksha, who reportedly committed suicide at her college on December 25. The police have arrested a member of the College Management Committee, Hanuman, and his son Rahul after registering a case of abetment to suicide against them.

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Interacting with the media after meeting her family, the minister said the government was committed to ensuring justice for the victim and her family. He assured the family of security and said the culprits, no matter how influential, would not be spared.

He also directed the police to send the SHO of Loharu police station to the Police Lines and ordered the Bhiwani SP to get a departmental inquiry done.

Bedi also promised to provide financial assistance to the family after submitting a report of the matter to the Chief Minister. “The government stands firmly with the victim’s family,” he said, while criticising the opposition parties. He said they should support the family rather than just posting on social media.

Meanwhile, the Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairperson, Dr Ravindra Baliala, visited the college, and later met the victim’s family. He announced a financial aid of Rs 1 lakh to the family of the victim under the SC/ST Act. He assured of further assistance as the case progressed. “The commission is resolute in exposing the truth and delivering justice,” he said.

The Chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, also went to the college and conducted inquiries with the staff and interacted with the family. She said the commission was collecting evidence, including diary entries, call records, and surveillance footage. “The death of a student is a tragic loss. We will ensure the truth comes to light,” she said.

Diksha's father Jagdish lodged a complaint with the police on December 27, alleging abetment to suicide. The police registered a case against four persons, two of whom have been arrested. Her father alleged that she was not allowed to sit for the examination on account of unpaid fee and was being harassed by the accused.

Cong MLA demands CBI probe

Rajbir Fartia, Congress MLA from Loharu and member of the society which runs the college — Sharda Mahila P.G Mahavidyala — has demanded an inquiry by the CBI or a sitting judge of the high court into the incident.

Saying that a high-level inquiry would help uncover the truth, he said: “The victim was like my own daughter.” The student was enrolled in the college in September 2022, and her family had only paid Rs 11,000 as admission fee. The college had later decided to waive the fee, which clearly indicated that the issue was not about fee, he claimed.

A delegation from the CPM, led by Comrade Om Prakash, also visited the victim’s family and called for a high-level judicial inquiry.