Noida: An FIR has been filed against the Sharda University administration after the father of Shivam Dey — a BTech student who died by suicide last Friday — accused it of negligence and harassment, alleging it drove his son to suicide.

In his complaint filed at Knowledge Park police station, Kartik Chandra, Shivam’s father, alleged that the university failed to inform the family about his son’s prolonged absence from classes. Despite Shivam appearing for exams, the university, he alleged, withheld crucial information about his attendance and academic status while persistently demanding tuition fees.

According to Chandra, it was only after the family was bombarded with emails and messages demanding payments that they discovered that Shivam had a “back” in several subjects, which meant he needed to repeat a year.

This, coupled with what Chandra alleged was harassment from fellow students over his academic backlog, led Shivam into depression, he alleged. “My son became depressed. He was being repeatedly pressured, forcing him to end his life,” he claimed.

Shivam, who was enrolled in a BTech computer science programme in 2022, struggled to perform from his second year. Despite multiple opportunities to improve his performance, he failed to meet the required standards and was offered the option to repeat the year at a reduced fee, university officials had earlier told TOI.

Shivam, who stayed outside the campus at HNR Boys Hostel, left a note in the room in which he said he held himself responsible for his decision.

Chandra also accused the hostel authorities of transferring Shivam to a hospital without informing them or the police about his alleged suicide. “We were only told after he was taken to the hospital that he died by suicide,” he said. The family has demanded CCTV footage of the transfer, but police have declined to share it, fearing it might be circulated on social media.

Chandra also questioned the university’s lack of communication regarding Shivam’s absence. “The university only cared about fees. I kept paying them, and they never cared. I received multiple mails from the university on general events on the campus. Why could they not even once inform me that my child was absent for so long?” he asked.

Shivam’s mother said she received a call from her son on the day of his death. Shivam, she said, enquired about the family’s well-being. “He was going through depression for a year. He visited home two months earlier. We never imagined he would take this step. We demand justice for my son,” she said.

Following the complaint, the FIR was filed against the university administration and “some boys” on charges of abetment of suicide. Police have issued a notice to the university, seeking details of Shivam’s class attendance, fee receipts, and registration records. The investigators have also seized two diaries and a mobile phone from Shivam’s hostel room to analyse call records and establish his last interactions.

The family plans to pursue legal action against the university once the rituals are over. Calls and messages to the Sharda University management did not elicit any response.

Shivam’s suicide has caused panic among students at HNR hostel, with many vacating their rooms.

Peers described Shivam as a reserved student who often mentioned preparing for competitive exams.

This is the second time in a month that a case related to a student suicide has been filed against Sharda University. The previous one involved the death on campus of second-year dental sciences student Jyoti Jhangra who had accused two faculty members of mental harassment.