How can Commissioner make sweeping statements on Anna University sexual assault case: Madras High Court

Madras High Court questions police handling of Anna University sexual assault case, advocates seek CBI probe.

The Madras High Court on Friday questioned as to how Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police A. Arun came to a conclusion, right at the initial stage of investigation, that no one else but for a sole accused was involved in the Anna University sexual assault case.

A Christmas vacation Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and V. Lakshminarayanan raised the query during the hearing of two public interest litigation petitions, filed by advocates R. Varalakshmi and A. Mohandoss, seeking a CBI probe in the case.

Justice Subramaniam referred to the Commissioner’s recent press conference and asked how the investigating officer would be able to probe into the issue freely and prosecute all the accused if a superior officer jumps the gun and makes sweeping statements to the media. He also wanted to know whether there were any rules in place with respect to conduct of press meets by the top police brass even before the investigating officers, much below in rank, could conclude the investigation and bring out the truth.

Appreciating the woman student for having lodged a complaint related to the shocking incident, the senior judge in the Bench said there could be many more victims who were hesitant to lodge complaints and, therefore, the State should encourage all of them to come out and complain boldly.

He said sexual assault against women even in reputed institutions should not be tolerated and that stringent action should be taken against the perpetrators. He also expressed displeasure over the First Information Report (FIR) related to the Anna University incident being available in the public domain, thereby revealing the identity of the accused.

Advocate General (AG) P.S. Raman told the court that the police had arrested the accused within 24 hours of receipt of the complaint and stoutly refuted the charge levelled by one of the writ petitioners that the accused was a member of the ruling DMK party.

The AG said he would file a detailed status report on the action taken so far. Accepting his request, the Division Bench adjourned the two cases to Saturday for further hearing. Though they took up a suo motu writ petition too, that case was referred to the Chief Justice for approval.