PUNE: The fact finding committee appointed by Deccan Education Society’s (DES) Law College in connection with the case of alleged ragging and suicide of a student Prashant Chitalkar has concluded that ragging did not take place in the college or the hostel.

It could not be confirmed if and when the committee recorded statements of four suspected students, whom the police found absconding within two days of the filing of FIR.

Second year law student Chitalkar had committed suicide on January 25 at a place near Rahuri. Chitalkar’s father had alleged that ragging in the college had led to the suicide. The police filed a case against four students and 5-10 unidentified students on charges of ragging and abetting suicide. DES had set up the three-member committee, headed by principal Rohini Honap, to verify the allegations. The committee submitted its report on Tuesday.

A one liner press note issued by DES Law College claims that after detailed inquiries into the alleged ragging, the committee has arrived at the conclusion. The press note does not give details of panel’s findings.

When contacted, vice chairman of DES governing body Vikas Kakatkar said, “The committee interviewed and recorded statements of 10-15 students, 10 teachers, hostel rector and also hostelers. Local guardian, who happens to be uncle of deceased student also appeared before the committee. Copy of the report has been delivered to Deccan police and the same will be given to University of Pune (UoP) and joint director of education by tomorrow morning. One copy has been dispatched to Ahmednagar police who are investigating the case.”

Kakatkar could not confirm whether four suspected students named in the FIR appeared before the committee. He said, “I have not read the entire report, but they must have deposed before the committee. I am not sure if all of them appeared and when.”

Rahuri police team, arrived in city on January 29 to investigate the case, was unable to trace four suspected students. Meanwhile, these students unsuccessfully tried to get anticipatory bail from the court. Unofficial sources said that four students appeared before the committee in first two days after the case was filed and the committee recorded their statements in-camera. They later vanished to escape arrest.

POLICE PROBE

Ahmednagar SP Vijay Chavan was not in position to confirm details of the report. Hence, it could not be ascertained if the report will have any bearing on police probe or FIR filed by them