According to the HT report, during the investigation conducted by Guntur District Collector Kantilal Dande, five of the seven individuals questioned about the caste of Vemula, confirmed that he was a Dalit while only two – Vemula’s enstranged father Mani Kumar and his paternal grandmother – said Vemula belonged to the Vaddera caste or OBC. 

However, the commission went with the view of latter and declared him an OBC. 

Among the five who confirmed Vemula’s Dalit caste were his mother Radhika Vemula, his brother Raja Vemula, sister Neelima Vemula, foster mother of Radhika Vemula, Anjani Devi and Vemula’s paternal grandfather Venkateshwarulu. 

The two relatives who said Rohith was not a Dalit however didn’t deny that Rohith’s mother Radhika Vemula was born a Dalit. 

The new inquiry into the caste status of Vemula was ordered after Andhra Pradesh government last year certified that Vemula was a Dalit. However, subsequent commission and other reports have claimed that Vemula wasn’t a Dalit and his mother faked Dalit status to get the benefit of reservations. 

Also, the case filed against HCU VC Appa Rao Podile and other BJP leaders for abetting Vemula’s suicide last year has been registered under SC/ST Atrocities Act. 

“Once Rohith is certified a non-Dalit, those in the dock for allegedly abetting his suicide will not be tried under the more stringent SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. It is a simple game to protect the accused,” said Jai Bhimrao, the advocate fighting the case. 

Feature image source: PTI/File Photo