The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Status report in Jayalakshmi case in 10 days

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Status report in Jayalakshmi case in 10 days

By Mohamed Imranullah S.

MADURAI, NOV. 19. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is handling the Jayalakshmi case, is expected to file a status report within 10 days before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court. The court granted it two months and the period expires on December 1.

The CBI began the investigation after registering a case based on an affidavit the Sivakasi woman filed before the Bench that she was harassed and sexually exploited by some police officers. The charge sheet could be filed only after the submission of the status report.

The sleuths have interrogated several persons, including Ms. Jayalakshmi.

On a plea made by the CBI, a lower court on November 17 directed her to undergo a medical check-up in the Rajaji Government Hospital here.

On October 1, a Division Bench, comprising Justice N.V. Balasubramanian and Justice T.V. Masilamani, directed the agency to investigate her allegations and submit a status report, in a sealed cover, to the Registrar (Judicial) of the Madurai Bench within two months. The registry was directed to post the matter thereafter for further orders. The order was passed by the High Court in Chennai.

The court took up a habeas corpus petition based on a telegram sent to the Chief Justice by Ms. Jayalakshmi's father, K. Alagirisamy, alleging that she was murdered by the policemen. Subsequently she was produced before the Madurai Bench, where she filed the affidavit containing charges of bigamy, corruption, intimidation, sexual harassment, rape, threat to foist criminal cases and forced marriage against policemen.

The woman also filed a rejoinder affidavit, listing the names of 20 policemen and a personal assistant to a State Minister for allegedly harassing her in their official and personal capacities.

Police plea rejected

Initially, on September 11, the same Division Bench, sitting in Madurai, passed a similar order directing the CBI to probe the case.

On September 15, when the Inspector-General of Police, south zone, filed an impleading petition seeking to recall the order, the Bench took up the matter in Chennai, as both the judges had shifted to the principal seat by that time.

Declining to recall the order passed in Madurai, the Division Bench on October 1 made it clear that the CBI would pursue the investigation as ordered. The IG pleaded that the Police department was already conducting an investigation into the charges made by Ms. Jayalakshmi and that an enquiry by two different agencies was bound to create confusion.

The Supreme Court on October 15 rejected at the admission stage itself a special leave petition filed by the State Government challenging the High Court order.

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