Chennai: Amid all-round consternation and the eruption of street protests by students and the public in several parts of Tamil Nadu, the state government on Thursday transferred the investigation of the gruesome Pollachi sex scam to the CBI, barely hours after the case was shifted from the district police to the state crime branch CID.
The G.O. issued late Wednesday by the Home Secretary transferring the case to the CBI stated that the DGP has now recommended that the CBI be entrusted with the probe “since the investigation involves technical issues including analysing the facebook data I.P.logs/addresses and Internet usage logs; the communication with facebook service providers and other Internet service providing places in various countries; nature of the crime is extremely serious thereby demanding some specialised attention and requires more laborious and dedicated investigation with technical expertise”.
The DGP's recommendation has been accepted, said the GO. It is learnt that the CB-CID will continue its probe until the case is taken over by the CBI, which could take some time.
The case relates to the sexual abuse of a woman by a gang of four men on February 12 inside a car near Pollachi. They had allegedly shot a video of the abuse and blackmailed her using the visuals. The victim lodged a complaint with the police on Feb 24.
The case took political colour after a local functionary of AIADMK was arrested for attacking the victim's brother for choosing to go to the police.
'Bar' Nagaraj, was later expelled from the party but the punitive action did not save the ruling party from attack from the Opposition parties and even the public.
Deputy Speaker Pollachi Jayaraman lashed out against DMK president MK Stalin accusing him of spreading falsehood implicating his family.
He also lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer alleging that Stalin's false propaganda was aimed at gaining electoral advantage and that his son-in-law Sabareesh was involved in the social media flood against him (Jayaraman).
The DMK hit back with party legal wing secretary M Shahjahan serving a legal notice on Jayaraman asking him to withdraw his 'false' charge and tender unconditional apology "within 48 hours", failing which legal action would be taken for causing criminal defamation to Stalin, his family and DMK party.
