The Madras High Court has voiced its dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation into the sexual harassment of girl students at a fake NCC camp in Krishnagiri. The court expressed concern that the State has yet to uncover the motive behind the crime and the background of the accused.A division bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice PB Balaji, raised doubts over whether the investigation is proceeding in the right direction as claimed by the State. The concerns were raised during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate AP Suryaprakasam, who is seeking a CBI probe into the incident.
As per the court’s earlier orders, the District Legal Services Authority of Krishnagiri filed a report after interacting with the school students and their parents. Upon reviewing the report, the bench expressed shock, particularly over the revelation that some victims and their families do not want the students to remain at the same school due to fear and trauma.
One of the victims stated that she wished to move far away from the district and needed support for her future, as mentioned in the report. The court emphasized the need to address the concerns of the victims and ensure their safety.
The court questioned the State as to why the investigators have been unable to uncover the background of Sivaraman, the primary accused, and how he managed to conduct fake NCC camps at various schools. The judges also asked who else might have been involved in these activities.
In response, the investigating officer informed the court that they had arrested an accused named Karunakaran and conducted an inquiry with another accused, Bhuvan, who is alleged to be a key figure in organizing the fake NCC camp.
The court has demanded more clarity and transparency in the investigation and has expressed a sense of urgency in uncovering the full scope of the crime and those involved. The case continues to raise questions about the safety of students and the effectiveness of the investigative processes in place.