KISS student murder case: Questions mount over founder Achyuta Samanta’s role as probe deepens

With the alleged murder of a Class IX student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) now officially established by police and eight senior officials sent to judicial custody, the case has entered a new phase where sharp questions are being raised about accountability at the very top of the institution.

At the heart of the public discourse is whether KISS and KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta had knowledge of the crime and the alleged attempts to conceal it, and if so, why no corrective action followed.

Did Achyuta Samanta Know And Remain Silent?

One of the central questions emerging from the investigation is whether Achyuta Samanta was aware that the student’s death was not natural.

Police have confirmed that the boy was strangled by his classmates and that the incident was deliberately concealed. This has led to questions on how such a serious crime could remain unreported within a large residential institution without the knowledge of its founder.

Investigators are examining the flow of information within KISS after the incident, raising the issue of whether details of the murder and its handling reached the highest level of the institutional hierarchy.

Was There Consent In Suppressing Facts?

Another key question relates to the alleged suppression of evidence and the information given to the victim’s family. Police have stated that the body was handed over, claiming the student died of a heart attack, contrary to later post-mortem findings of strangulation.

This has triggered questions on whether such decisions were taken independently by KISS staff and officials now arrested, or whether there was tacit approval or direction from higher authorities. The role of institutional leadership in allowing or overlooking such actions is under scrutiny.

Did Assurances Encourage Illegal Actions?

Police have alleged that minor students were threatened and pressured into silence by teachers, staff and authorities. This has raised concerns over whether an atmosphere of protection or ‘assurance from above’ emboldened employees to take unlawful steps.

Questions are being raised on whether verbal or implicit assurances from senior leadership created a sense of immunity that encouraged staff to conceal the crime rather than report it to police.

Why No Immediate Move For Justice?

The victim was a minor tribal student, which has further intensified the debate on institutional responsibility. Critics are questioning why, instead of ensuring justice and transparency, there was alleged silence and inaction at the top.

The delay in informing the police and the alleged attempt to present the death as natural have become central points of concern.

Past Silence, Present Confidence?

The unfolding case has also revived questions about whether previous incidents across KIIT-KISS were reportedly suppressed, contributing to institutional confidence that the system could manage such crises internally.

Observers are questioning whether this past experience led to complacency or overconfidence in handling the present case.

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Has The Political Climate Changed The Outcome?

With a new government in place in Odisha, questions are also being raised on whether earlier strategies of influence or containment have failed.

The arrest and jailing of eight officials, including an Additional CEO, has fuelled speculation on whether the current political and administrative environment has enabled a more direct police response.

Will Police Action Reach Higher Levels?

As of now, police have not named Achyuta Samanta as an accused. However, the growing list of questions has led to public anticipation over whether the investigation will examine responsibility beyond those already arrested.

Police have registered cases under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to murder, criminal conspiracy, intimidation and suppression of facts, and have stated that the investigation is ongoing. Officials have maintained that further findings will be placed before the court as the probe progresses.

As of the last reports neither KISS nor representatives of Achyuta Samanta have responded on the allegations surrounding them.