Another professor arrested in Nirmala case

After the leaked audio of Nirmala Devi, in which she allegedly urged college students to extend favours to higher officials of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) was circulated widely, she was booked and the case was shifted to the CB-CID. The sleuths then took Nirmala Devi under their custody for five days on Friday.

Initially, she had revealed the names of two men, Murugan, assistant professor at MKU, and Karuppasamy, re-search scholar at MKU, for allegedly acting as ‘brokers’ and helping her establish high-level contacts. However, the duo was absconding. 

On Monday, Murugan came for work to the MKU. The CB-CID immediately served a notice to him and commenced an inquiry. The investigation continued for the second day on Tuesday and by the end of the day, he was booked under sections 370 and 511 of IPC and arrested. He was taken to the Sattur Court, produced before JM-II Geetha and was remanded.

Meanwhile, as the five-day custody of Nirmala Devi ended on Tuesday, the CB-CID is likely to take her to court on Wednesday. Sources said the CB-CID is planning to seek an extension of custody of Nirmala Devi.

Also, R Santhanam, chairman of the one-man committee appointed by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, is set to commence his second phase of investigation on Wednesday. He had earlier submitted a letter to the CB-CID seek-ing permission to question Nirmala Devi.

Sources said the CB-CID on Tuesday served notice to a person called Jenitha, an assistant professor at a private college in Thoothukudi. Jenitha had shared her room with Nirmala Devi from March 13 to 21 in the guesthouse at MKU and after Nirmala was suspended on March 21, she had left the guesthouse. The CB-CID is trying to gather information from Jenitha about Nirmala, said sources.