A person claiming to represent the Human Resources Development Ministry on Wednesday visited La Martinere for Boys in Kolkata in connection with the suicide of a student who was caned by the principal but HRD Minister Kapil Sibal denied having authorised anybody to probe the death.
"I visited the school today on a fact-finding mission. I spoke to the principal and the secretary of the school board of governors. I have also sought a report from them," Ramesh Bhattacharjee, a member of the HRD Ministry's Department of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, told PTI after his visit to the prestigious school. He said would also speak to the parents of Rouvanjit Rawla, who committed suicide, to ascertain their views about his death.
"I will submit a report to the ministry after talking to all concerned," he said. In Delhi, Sibal said he has not appointed any committee in this regard. "I have not appointed any committee nor have I authorised anyone to probe the death of the student of La Martinere school," Sibal told PTI. Bhattacharjee and Anthony Arun Biswas claimed to have authorisation from Sibal to probe the Rawla suicide case.
When contacted, Biswas said that Sibal had made a call to Bhattacharjee, who claims to be a member of the HRD Ministry's Department of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, and asked him to probe the matter. "I have not spoken to anyone. This is absolutely false," Sibal said when asked whether he had ordered any probe into the issue. Bhattacharjee could not be contacted for his comments on Sibal's remarks.
Biswas claimed that he is the chairman of a society, All-India Minority and Weaker Sections Council which is registered under the Societies Act. PTI
