Chennai, April 17: The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday transferred the case involving Professor Nirmala Devi to the Crime Investigation Department. The move came in the backdrop of massive protest launched by students demanding a high-level inquiry against the "higher officials" whom the professor referred to in the purported audio clip.

The Opposition, including the DMK and PMK had opposed the case being earlier handed over to a committee appointed by Governor Banwarilal Purohit and the Vice Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University P P Chellathurai.

The case came to light in the past week after the professor, associated with the Devanga Arts college in Virudhunagar, was heard offering four students academic and financial assistance in lieu of sexual favours extended to a higher official of the MKU.

"I will make sure that your marks are not affected. You will get financial support and academic support also. I don't know if you will tell your parents or not. We will open an account for you and will put money for you," Devi was heard saying in the 19-minute audio clip.

She warned the students against disclosing the offer to others, claiming "they would hurt their reputation" in doing so.

The girls could be heard repeatedly refusing the offer saying they "do not want to discuss it any further". However, the professor kept insisting, calling it a "golden opportunity to take their careers forward".

The female professor was arrested on Monday, a couple of days after the MKU suspended her for 15 days. The University's VC said a conspiracy is being hatched to damage the institute's reputation. "Any person can misuse anybody’s name. That does not mean it is true," he said, adding that strict action would be taken against all those who would be indicted by the investigators.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 17, 2018 04:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).