The police team that probed the stampede on November 25, 2023, at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) which led to the death of three students and another person, has filed a chargesheet naming three faculty members as accused in the case.

The then principal of the School of Engineering Deepak Kumar Sahoo and two others have been charged under Section 304-A of IPC, for causing death by negligence. The two others are faculty members Gireesh Thampi and Biju N., who were key organisers of the tech fest event that was held at the university’s auditorium.

The chargesheet which highlights negligence by the organisers includes a structural study report done by the Public Works department of the auditorium, apart from other relevant documents and eyewitness accounts. There was also a failure to properly inform the police, allowing entry to more than double the number of people than the auditorium can hold, and organising the programme without adequate security measures. Moreover, two gates on the southern and northern sides of the auditorium were locked, while entry/exit was limited to the main entrance alone for a live concert by singer Nikhitha Gandhi, according to the chargesheet.