Plea on Santhanam panel dismissed

Activist Selva Gomathi, in her PIL, had said that an audio clip in which Assistant Professor Nirmala Devi, working in a private college in Aruppukottai, had allegedly lured four college students to extend sexual favours to higher officials of Madurai Kamaraj University had shook the state. When the scandal was reported in the media, a case was booked against Nirmala Devi and she was arrested.

Later, the case was shifted to the CB-CID and then Purohit appointed the Committee to probe the issue. Now, there were two agencies and it will hamper the investigation. Also, as per Supreme Court guidelines, an internal complaints committee should have been formed by the University though it was not done. Further, the Governor has no jurisdiction to appoint an officer to inquire into a criminal offence and so the High Court should declare the appointment of the committee as null and void, said the petitioner.

However, judges Govindaraj and G R Swaminathan disposed the petition saying that the Governor has the right as Chancellor of the University to form a committee to probe the scandal.

The Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Virudhunagar on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of Assistant Professor Nirmala Devi until May 23. Meanwhile, a burglary attempt was made at her house at Kavya Nagar in Aruppukottai. The house was sealed but later the seal was opened and the key handed over to her husband Saravanapandian. On Tuesday, he had visited the house. On Wednesday, a neighbour saw the door open and alerted Saravanapandian. Police were informed and a sniffer dog was brought to the scene.