Vishnupriya case: CBI probe Sought

A division bench of the Madras High Court has comprising Justice Satish K Agnihotri and Justice M Venugopal sought the State, CB-CID and DIG to file a counter within two weeks on a plea from Vishnupriya’s father M Ravi seeking to hand over the probe to CBI from CB-CID. 

He submitted that the Namakkal SP Senthilkumar and Salem Range DIG Vidya Kulkarni against whom several allegations are made in connection with Vishnupriya’s death are still functioning in the same jurisdiction and hence there are chances of their interfering with the witnesses and screening of the evidence. 

Senior Advocate P Wilson appearing on behalf of the petitioner had contended that the Police Standing Order 490(4) states that even the CB-CID investigating the case has to work under the Superintendent of Police of the district concerned and fully inform him of all his doings and what has happened, consult him, take instructions on the case and inform him of the result of the enquiry. 

He further noted that even though the SP of CB- CID monitors by virtue of PSO 490 (4), the investigating officer had consulted and coordinated with SP Senthil Kumar. 

Hence the investigation conducted by CBCID cannot be expected to be fair and proper. He also told the court that when witnesses fear to come openly and when evidence are erased and tampered systematically and ingeniously to protect the real culprits and investigation is diverted and distracted as done in this case only an independent fair and impartial investigation will reveal the truth behind Vishnupriya’s death. 

Vishnupriya’s father has alleged that his daughter was mentally tortured and harassed by her superiors, and that it is not known whether her death is a homicide or suicide.