Nirmala case: Madras HC dismisses plea for CBI probe

The vacation division bench comprising Justice R Subramanian and Justice M Dhandapani while referring to various Supreme Court orders regards transfer of investigation, said “In the present case the investigation is under progress by the State Police and the agency is yet to complete the investigation. Further, another petition seeking SIT probe is pending adjudication before the High Court. Hence, this petition seeking transfer of investigation cannot be entertained.” 

The petitioner G S Mani, a Supreme Court advocate, on expressing shock and surprise over the Governor ordering judicial enquiry by a one-man committee headed by retired IAS officer R Santhanam, despite his name figuring prominently in the scandal, said, “No one can be a Judge for his own cause” and added, “If the investigation has to proceed in a proper manner, the Central Government has to rescind the appointment of Governor Banwarilal Purohit.”

Also, raising doubts over the investigation by the State Police, the petitioner said, “It is doubtful the police investigation and the judicial inquiry ordered by the Governor will come out with the truth. Instead, there is ample scope that they would destroy the entire investigation and evidences. There is also a bright chance of evidences being tampered with. Hence, a court monitored CBI probe is just and necessary.” 

The petitioner on noting that persons with muscle power, money power and political power exploiting college girls are serious in nature, said “The State Police is obviously not effective to undertake a free and fair investigation against the unknown accused, who according to the arrested professor is highly influential with ministers and higher police officials.”