Family gets IIT-Kgp prof’s body after post-mortem probe
Times of India | 31 July 2026
: The post-mortem of Deepak Reddy Pullaguram, the deceased assistant professor at IIT Kharagpur, was concluded under strict videography at the Midnapore Medical College Hospital on Thursday. Following a magisterial inquest and the autopsy, police collected samples for a viscera test to help ascertain the exact circumstances of his sudden death.
The tragedy has left the professor’s family in profound shock. His father, Pullaguram Venkat Reddy, and elder brother, Dixith Reddy, reached the IIT campus on Wednesday night. Standing outside the morgue, his father said, “My son had a very cheerful disposition; I could never imagine he would do such a thing. We spoke on the phone around 8.30 pm on Tuesday. We talked about whether he had eaten and whether he would eat at the mess or in his room. Even then, I couldn’t sense anything from our conversation.” His brother Dixith, described Deepak as a calm person and expressed total bewilderment over the drastic step.
Superintendent of Police Papiya Sultana confirmed the completion of the procedure, stating, “The cause of death will be known once the report is received. An investigationis underway.”
Preliminary investigation indicates potential personal struggles. “The professor went through a divorce about two years ago and, according to sources, was not allowed to meet his daughter. Efforts are currently underway to speak in detail with the student who first reported the incident. The professor’s room remains sealed and will only be opened in the presence of family members when a forensic team arrives. At that time, investigators will confiscate and thoroughly examine his mobile phone, laptop, and other belongings. Authorities are also tracing his digital footprint to determine whether he had spoken to or had a video call with anyone in the hours leading up to the tragic incident,” said cops.
After the medical procedures, the IIT authorities and the police formally handed the body over to his grieving family. The IIT administration supervised the entire process, making all necessary arrangements to help transport the body back home. The family members will spend the night at a guest house in Kolkata before departing with the remains by flight on Friday morning.