Chennai, May 16: The Madras High Court today dismissed a PIL seeking CBI probe into the alleged sex scandal involving a woman college teacher. The vacation bench comprising Justice R Subramanian and Justice M Dhandapani dismissed the PIL filed by G S Mani, an advocate practising in the Supreme Court.
Citing the ongoing state CB-CID probe and pendency of a petition seeking setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) to deal with the matter, the bench said hence, the PIL could not be entertained.
The matter relates to an alleged attempt by Nirmala Devi, an assistant professor of an arts college in Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar district, to lure girl students to extend sexual favours to higher education officials in return for marks and money.
The college is affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj University. Devi has been arrested while Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, in his capacity as the chancellor of the university, had set up a one-man inquiry committee to look into the allegations.
The petitioner had expressed doubts over the investigation by the state police and the inquiry ordered by the governor. The state police investigation and the judicial inquiry ordered by the governor would destroy the entire investigation and evidence, he alleged.
"There is a bright chance of tampering evidence. Hence the court monitoring CBI probe is just and necessary," Mani said. Devi was arrested after an audio clip of her purported conversation with students went viral on social media.