A fresh controversy has erupted at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College (Pt JNMMC) after the name of Deepraj Verma mysteriously disappeared from the November 11 suspension order, despite his inclusion in the original order issued on November 4. This strange omission has sparked serious allegations against the college administration of shielding Verma, raising questions about the transparency of the institution’s disciplinary process. The incident revolves around a ragging case that was first made public after disturbing WhatsApp chats between senior and junior students were leaked.

 

The messages revealed a co-ordinated effort to escalate ragging, including threats and coercion aimed at specific students. Among the five students initially suspended, Deepraj Verma and Anshu Joshi were named in the first order, while three other students were implicated in the harassment of approximately 50 freshers. However, on November 11, the revised suspension list issued by the college administration curiously replaced Verma’s name with another student, leading to widespread suspicion about the fairness of the investigation. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ on condition of anonymity, a senior faculty member of Pt JNMMC defended the administration’s actions, stating, “The action was based on two separate complaints. Deepraj Verma was suspended in the first complaint, while Anshu Joshi and four others were involved in both complaints, leading to their month-long suspension in the second order.” Despite this explanation, the disappearance of Verma’s name from the revised suspension list has fueled accusations of a cover-up. The lack of clarity regarding why Verma was removed from the list, after initially being suspended for his role in the ragging, has intensified suspicions of administrative bias and improper handling of the case.

 

The controversy surrounding the disappearance of Deepraj Verma’s name from the suspension list has exposed deeper systemic issues within Pt JNMMC. While the college administration claims to have acted in good faith, many feel that the failure to take decisive legal action and the lack of transparency undermine the institution’s credibility. Victims of the ragging, who endured both physical and mental harassment, have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the college’s response. Parents of the victim students, frustrated with the initial inaction, escalated the matter to the National Medical Commission (NMC), prompting the college administration to take action. In response to the mounting pressure, Pt JNMMC suspended five students from the 2023 MBBS batch for one month.

 

“We have identified five students involved in the ragging incident, and they have been suspended for one month as an immediate disciplinary action,” said an official from Pt JNMMC. Among those suspended were Deepraj Verma and Anshu Joshi. However, the revised suspension order, omitting Verma’s name, has led many to question the integrity of the disciplinary process. The college’s Anti-Ragging Committee, led by Dr Vivek Choudhary, has responded to the situation by directing the Anti-Ragging Squad to conduct surprise inspections of the hostels housing over 150 students from the 2023 and 2025 MBBS batches. The committee members emphasized that both senior and fresher students are being closely monitored, and parents are being involved to address the issue in a more collaborative manner. However, some students and parents remain unconvinced by the college’s actions and demand stronger measures.