Vishnupriya case: CBI plea seeking closure dismissed

Justice S Nagarajan, before whom the plea came up for hearing, dismissed the petition and ordered a thorough enquiry into the DSP’s call records and other conversations on social media.

“Hinting shortcomings in the CBI investigation, the court directed the CBI to inquire into the details of her phone conversation with the then SP Senthil Kumar. He had spoken to her for about 14 minutes before she committed suicide,” said advocate Arulmozhi, appearing for Vishnupriya’s father N Ravi Kumar. Ravi Kumar said that his daughter had taken the extreme step due to the pressure exerted by Senthil Kumar.

“The judge has ordered a re-investigation only on finding merit in my side. The CBI claims to have inquired senior police officials, but hasn’t submitted their signature or the recorded statement,” he said.

He also urged the court to summon and inquire seven police officers on the circumstances that led to her death. The court has in fact ordered to reopen the case after CBI submitted a report for its closure in May stating there were no evidence for murder or foul play.

The DSP, Tiruchengode Division in Namakkal district, who was probing the murder case of Dalit youth Gokulraj was found hanging in her quarters on September 18, 2015.

Vishnupriya’s friend and batch mate K Maheswari, who was then serving as a DSP at Keezhakkarai in Ramanathapuram, also alleged that she committed suicide unable to bear harassment from higher officials.

The State government transferred the Gokulraj case and Vishnupriya case to the CB-CID, which was then transferred to CBI in July, 2016.