Rohith Vemula case: Telangana BJP President Ramchander Rao serves legal notice to Dy CM Bhatti

Hyderabad: Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao has served a legal notice to Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka for allegedly linking him to the suicide of Hyderabad University research scholar Rohith Vemula.

Apology demanded within three days

In the notice sent on Tuesday, Rao, who is also a High Court lawyer, demanded an unconditional apology from the Congress leader within three days, failing which he threatened to initiate defamation proceedings seeking damages of Rs 25 crore.

BJP leader absolved in Final Report

Rao stated that the final investigation report by the SC/ST Special Court in March 2024 had absolved him of all charges related to the case.

“No evidence was found, no abetment was established, and even the caste claim was proven fraudulent. Despite this, Mallu Bhatti resorted to political slander, misusing his position to spread lies,” the BJP said in a statement, adding that the party would not tolerate false propaganda against its leaders.

Deputy CM’s allegations against Rao

Addressing a press conference in Delhi on July 11, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka criticised the BJP for appointing Ramchander Rao, whom he described as an accused in the Rohith Vemula suicide case, as the state party president.

He alleged that the BJP continues to reward those who work against Dalits and tribals and claimed that Rao had pressured Hyderabad Central University authorities to suspend Rohith Vemula and four other students following clashes between ABVP and ASA groups, leading to Rohith’s suicide in 2016.

Recalling Rohith’s Struggle

Bhatti Vikramarka recalled that Rohith, a PhD scholar and an active member of the Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA), was fighting for self-respect and social justice for Dalits.

He accused ABVP leader Susheel Kumar of filing a false complaint that triggered severe action against Rohith and his friends, pushing him to end his life.

The Congress leader further alleged that then BJP MLC Ramchander Rao, along with his supporters, staged protests, met the university vice chancellor, and exerted pressure to take punitive action against the ASA students, which ultimately led to Rohith’s death.

He added that pressure was exerted from the Union Human Resource Minister down to the local BJP leaders to target Rohith and other Dalit students on campus.