CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Monday ordered the Tiruppur Superintendent of Police (SP) to monitor the ongoing investigation into the death of 27-year-old Rithanya, allegedly due to torture and dowry harassment by her husband and in-laws.
Justice N Sathish Kumar passed the orders on a petition filed by Rithanya’s father R Annadurai seeking transfer of the probe from the district police to the Crime Branch-CID or the CBI or to a special investigation team (SIT) headed by a retired judge.
“The SP shall monitor the investigations. The respondents shall file the final report after collecting the forensic analysis report of audio messages sent by the deceased to her father,” the judge said in the order. He also directed the SP to investigate the allegations that the police had leaked the audio clips of the deceased.
However, the judge refused to transfer the probe from the district police to another agency as sought by the petitioner. “Since substantial investigations have already been completed, the transfer of the probe to other agencies will not serve any purpose,” the judge reasoned. Justice Sathish Kumar directed the trial court to frame necessary charges if the investigating officer omitted any charges in the final report.
Advocate B Mohan, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that investigation into the death of Rithanya has been marred by grave lapses and deliberate inaction.
Even though crucial evidence shows the death was caused by sexual torture and dowry harassment, the police failed to incorporate adequate sections, in this regard, in the FIR. Provisions addressing sexual violence and harassment under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998 are not included the FIR even now, he stated.
Denying the allegations, government advocate KMD Muhilan, representing the police, said the sections in the FIR were altered to Sections 85 and 108 of BNS, and the police would proceed further based on the findings of the forensic report of audio clips.
He informed that the investigations, lead by a DSP, have been conducted in an impartial manner and the husband and in-laws of the deceased were arrested on June 29 and they were granted bail on August 21.