Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology), became embroiled in controversy following the suicide of a third-year Nepalese B.Tech student, Prakriti Lamasal.
Kathmandu: On February 21, 2025, Achyuta Samanta, founder of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), was summoned to appear before a high-level committee following allegations of misconduct against Nepalese students. This action was taken by the Mohan Majhi-led government, which formed a committee to investigate the alleged causes of the student's suicide and the university administration's alleged arbitrary actions. Furthermore, the university is accused of issuing notices only to a specific group of students and indefinitely shutting down the institution.
Officials Interact with KIIT Staff and Students
Home Secretary Satyavrat Sahu, Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department Subha Sharma, and Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department Arvind Agrawal visited the campus and interacted with KIIT staff and students. During this visit, the committee requested Mr. Samanta to submit sufficient documentary evidence regarding the matter.
Mr. Achyuta Samanta, a prominent educational entrepreneur, has previously been elected to the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on a Biju Janata Dal ticket. He started his entrepreneurial journey in 1992 with an industrial training institute. After a humble beginning as a laboratory assistant at a Bhubaneswar-based college, he rapidly achieved success.
Details of the Case
The incident created a significant controversy for KIIT when Prakriti Lamasal, a third-year B.Tech Computer Science student from Nepal, allegedly committed suicide by hanging. Subsequently, the institute was accused of forcibly evicting all Nepalese students from the campus. Additionally, racist remarks allegedly made by some staff members, claiming that the funds spent on student welfare at KIIT exceeded Nepal's national budget, further fueled the controversy.
This incident also sparked a diplomatic row, damaging the institution's reputation. Following the controversy, Mr. Achyuta Samanta met with Prakriti's father and uncle to express his condolences. He then announced a significant step: KIIT would establish a special scholarship for Nepalese students. This move aimed to ensure that talented students like Prakriti could complete their education without hindrance in the future.
This initiative conveyed the institution's commitment to student welfare and its intention to take concrete steps to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
