The father of late Kushagra Jain, a third-year student at BITS Pilani’s Goa cam pus, has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant demanding a thorough and independent inquiry into his son’s sudden and unex plained death in the campus hostel.
Vinod Kumar Jain, a 64-year-old retired government servant, said his 21-year-old son was last seen playing table tennis with friends until 10.30 pm on August 15 and was active on WhatsApp until 2.12 am on August 16. According to a doctor’s observation, the death likely occurred around 3 am—barely an hour after his last online activity. "When I reached Goa with my friend around 6 pm, I found my son lying on his bed with dark blue lips and nails — a sign that cannot be ignored. I immediately expressed my suspicion to DySP Kadam, who was present there.
The institute doctor attributed it to oxygen deficiency, but the explanation was not convincing,” Jain said. A post-mortem was conducted on August 17, but the cause of death has been reserved pending viscera, histopathologi cal, and toxicology tests. Jain said he has repeatedly request ed access to CCTV footage from the hostel corridor but has not been shown it. He has also submitted five specific points to the investigating officer for consideration. Describing his son as a bright, disciplined student with a CGPA of 9, no medical history, and a strict vegetarian life style, Jain categorically ruled out natural causes.
“My son was hale and hearty, with no ailments or medica tion. I fear that something poisonous was administered to him, and this must be investigated thoroughly,” he said, adding that the loss has left him and his wife in deep shock and depression. “This incident has devastated our family. I request you to order a thorough and independent inquiry at the ear liest, as any delay may lead to tampering of evidence and allow the culprits to escape accountability.
A strong mes sage must go out so that such incidents do not recur in the campus or elsewhere,” Jain appealed to the Chief Minister. The death has intensified concerns among parents, al ready unsettled by a series of recent tragedies at the Goa campus. Many have begun visiting the state to personally check on their children. On a recent Bangalore–Goa flight, parents of one BITS Pilani student, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Just like us, many parents are disturbed, constantly wor rying about the safety of their children inside the campus.” They stressed that while individual cases may involve personal reasons, institutions have a duty to provide coun seling and support. “We are not blaming the institution, but such incidents bring a bad name,” the parent remarked. Families say BITS Pilani’s reputation for academic excel lence must be matched by stronger mental health and stress management systems.
“We only want assurance that our chil dren are safe and their well-being is taken care of,” they said. The institution’s leadership now faces mounting pres sure to restore confidence and demonstrate that student safety and welfare are as much a priority as academics.