In dock over Rohith Vemula's suicide, Hyderabad Central University VC Appa Rao rejoins work

Hyderabad: Professor Appa Rao Podile, vice chancellor of the University of Hyderabad, rejoined work on Tuesday after nearly two months on leave.

Appa Rao had in the last week of January proceeded on an indefinite leave in the wake of suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula.

Rohith's suicide on the university campus had led to protests not just inside the varsity but by students community across the country.

Amid intense pressure, Appa Rao had proceeded on leave on January 24.

Rohith, 26, committed suicide by hanging himself in the Hyderabad Central University campus in January. He was earlier suspended from the university hostel in August last year by the administration for allegedly attacking an ABVP leader.

The university had allegedly stopped giving scholarship to Rohith after the incident which led to financial hardship and culminated in his suicide.

Also in August 2015, Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya, in a letter to HRD Minister Smriti Irani, had alleged that the Hyderabad Central University had become “a den of casteist, extremist and anti-national politics”.

It was alleged that Dattatreya had sought action against research scholars including Rohith.

Appa Rao was slammed for not doing anything to help Rohith.

While going on leave, Appa Rao had said that he was trying to facilitate talks with the protesting students.

The police had booked Dattatreya, Appa Rao and two others for ‘abetting’ the suicide of Rohith.