A 23-year-old student from Bihar, who was attending a coaching institution in Bengaluru, tragically took his own life, reportedly after facing ridicule in class due to his academic struggles. The family has lodged a formal complaint against the staff of the academy. Chunnu Kumar, hailing from the Mothihari district of Bihar, was enrolled at the Manipal Academy of BFSI. His roommate, Ankit, discovered him hanging in their hostel around 5:30 PM on Monday.
An FIR filed by Chunnu’s father, Munna Kumar, a goldsmith aged 52, indicates that Chunnu had joined the program in March. According to Munna, friends of Chunnu informed him that his son was distressed after being publicly embarrassed for failing certain subjects. The FIR detailed that Chunnu was belittled in front of his peers, being labeled as “good for nothing” and burdened with additional assignments. Friends noted that Chunnu had expressed concerns about the impact this treatment was having on his mental well-being. Ankit Sharma, his roommate, shared with the family that Chunnu was troubled by the ongoing pressure and humiliation, and that he had attempted to provide support on multiple occasions.
On May 18, Chunnu sat for an exam alongside his friend Nikhil Tiwari. Reportedly, he left the exam venue around 12:30 PM and returned to his hostel, where he was later found deceased. The FIR claims that the academy management failed to promptly notify the police upon discovering the body and instead removed it from the scene before authorities arrived, raising serious concerns about their actions.
The Kothanur police have initiated an investigation, registering a case against several individuals, including the Head of Department Chandrashekhar Kannahia, instructor Sunithaasri Jagatap, and Head of Programme Venkatesh KV, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to the abetment of suicide and criminal intimidation.
The Indian Express attempted to contact the Manipal Academy of BFSI for a statement but did not receive a response. In the wake of this incident, students at the academy organized a protest, calling for justice for Chunnu. Munna Kumar has raised concerns that other students are experiencing threats from the academy’s management for voicing their opinions.
The Manipal Academy of BFSI specializes in corporate-sponsored coaching programs aimed at preparing students for careers in the banking sector and is part of the Manipal Education and Medical Group.
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