Student suicide: Police blame it on Bank Manager

KOTTAYAM: Pointing out serious slip-ups on the part of the bank in the suicide of nursing student Sruthi, the preliminary report of the police says that it is the negligence on the part of the bank manager that led to her suicide.
A case was registered against bank manager G S Harikrishnan on Monday for abetment of suicide under Section 306.
 The police sealed the Pulichuvadu branch of the HDFC Bank on Tuesday and raided the residence of Harikrishnan at Eroor in Kochi. Harikrishnan, hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, has been absconding.
 Meanwhile, the police have found that the bank approved a loan to Sruthi, a day after her attempt to suicide.
“The employees of the bank admitted that the bank had approved a loan to Sruthi on April 18. This means the bank could have sanctioned the loan a bit earlier and could have saved a life,” said A J Thomas, CI of police, Kottayam West.
 The police have also received the documents of the intimation sent to Sruthi informing her of the approval of loan.
“We have sealed the bank to make  sure that the documents are kept secure in the bank. We have to examine all the documents to get further evidence,” Thomas said.
 According to the directive of Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, district police Superintendent C Rajagopal has submitted a primary report on the death of Sruthi to Director-General of Police (DGP) Jacob Punnoose. It is learnt that the SP has informed the DGP that the negligence or lapse on the part of the branch manager has led to the suicide of Sruthi.
 “We cannot categorically declare that the bank’s lapse spoiled her life. However, we got statements that when Sruthi had told the branch manager that if she could not avail of the loan she would be left with no other way but to commit suicide, the manager asked her to do so. We are inquiring about the incident and the persons responsible for her suicide will be booked soon,” said Kottayam SP C Rajagopal.
 In the meantime, various political parties took out protest marches to the Pulinchuvad branch of the HDFC Bank. The Youth Congress, Janatipatya Mahila Association and the CPM held protests.