The local police investigated it first. Then the case was transferred to the CB-CID, the State’s elite police wing. And now, the CBI has taken over the investigation into alleged sexual harassment of women in Pollachi by a gang of men who had shot videos of their acts. Soon after taking over the probe, the central agency has registered two FIRs in the matter – one pertaining to sexual harassment of the woman (who had lodged complaint) and second related to the assault of her brother.
The CBI has began the probe on the request of the Tamilnadu government. The gang is believed to have sexually harassed and blackmailed a large number of women which triggered an outrage in the State. Citing the need for specialised attention, dedicated investigation with technical expertise and the extremely serious nature of the crime, the government had given its consent transferring the harassment and a related assault case from the CB-CID to the CBI.
It is to be noted that the issue snowballed into a political row and a slew of protest demonstrations by parties, students and youth outfits had escalated the issue, bringing more pressure on the government and police for speedy action. More visuals of the gang had surfaced on social media, sending shock waves across the country. So far, four persons have been arrested and they were booked under various sections of the IPC, Tamilnadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and the Goondas Act. Now that the CBI has taken over these FIRs and re-registered them as its cases, which is part of a procedure, everyone is of the expectation that justice would be delivered fast.