HC asks CB-CID to file counter-affidavit in college sex scandal case

The Madras High Court today directed the state CB-CID, probing the alleged sex scandal involving a woman assistant professor at a college in Virudhunagar district, to file its counter in two weeks.

The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Juctice P T Asha passed the interim order and posted the plea to July 2 for further hearing.

On May 11, the High Court had passed the interim order restraining the circulation of the contents of retired IAS officer Santhanam committee report on the issue.

The court ordered the government to keep the report in a sealed cover till further orders.

The issue related to the assistant professor Nirmala Devi allegedly asking the students of the college to extend sexual favours to the higher officials of the institution in return for marks and money.

The order was passed on a plea by the Revolutionary Youth and Students Federation, claiming that if the Santhanam committee, appointed by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, was allowed to file its report on the scandal, it might dilute the probe by the CB-CID.

The federation sought to restrain the committee from filing its report till the CB-CID concludes its probe.

The college, where the sex scandal broke out, is affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University.

The suspended assistant professor of the private Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai, some 500 km from Chennai, was accused of advising students to extend sexual favours to some officials in return for higher marks and money.

She arrested on April 16, a day after an audio clip went viral on the social media, in which she purportedly advised students "to adjust with some officials".

It was alleged that she sought to persuade girls to consider extending sexual favours to senior officials of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU).

She, however, denied a sexual angle to her advice and claimed she had made it "in the right spirit" and not with any hidden motive or agenda.

Tamil Nadu Governor Purohit, in his capacity as chancellor of the university, had set up the one-man inquiry committee to look into the charges.