The dean of NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur, Dr D K Sakalle, immolated himself under mysterious circumstances at his official quarters in the college premises on Friday morning when his wife had gone to take a morning walk.

The 56-year-old was on leave for past few days and appeared to be under pressure, reportedly because he was the dean when several MBBS students involved in the MPPEB scam had been expelled after it was established they had cleared the pre-medical test using unfair means.

“He was neither questioned by the STF nor had he initiated the process to expel the students. He had simply acted on the orders passed before he took over,” Jabalpur SP Harinarayanchari Mishra told The Indian Express. He added that “prima facie it appears to be a case of suicide but no note was found”.

The head of the forensic science department, Dr Sakalle allegedly poured kerosene on himself and set himself on fire around 7.30 am. He sustained more than 90 per cent burns and was declared brought dead at the government hospital. He was set to retire in September.

Congress spokesman K K Mishra alleged that a suicide note found near the body had names of two persons who were putting pressure on Dr Sakalle. Mishra alleged Dr Sakalle was cooperating with the STF probe honestly and, therefore, was being targeted by middlemen.

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