Pollachi scam Investigation officer transferred
A.Natesan was the investigating officer of the case when the Pollachi police were handling the case.
Chennai: The controversial IPS officer Pandiarajan has been transferred out of his position as SP, Coimbatore, following an outcry from several rights activists and opposition politicians taking offence to his handling of the Pollachi sex scam, particularly in revealing the name of the victim girl.
The DSP and the Inspector involved in the case have also been transferred out. All three officers have not been given any postings.
The critics also faulted state Home secretary Niranjan Mardi as he had mentioned the name of the victim and even identified her family, her college and other personal details while passing the GO transferring the case to the CBI probe.
Ironically, Mardi has now signed the order transferring out Pandiarajan and two others involved in the investigations of the gruesome sex scam while he himself remains untouched.
The Pollachi sexual assault case first came to light in February. Based on the complaint of a survivor who approached the police, an FIR was filed on February 24 against four men involved in sexually assaulting and blackmailing her with a recorded video of the crime. Four men -- Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, Sabarirajan (a) Riswandh and Vasanthakumar -- were arrested by the police. It was later alleged that they were repeat offenders who had assaulted and extorted money from several women.
A.Natesan was the investigating officer of the case when the Pollachi police were handling the case. In a press conference, then Coimbatore SP R Pandiarajan went on to reveal the survivor's identity, besides details of the total number of videos he received and the number of accused. While the case was transferred from the local police to the state's CB-CID on March 12, the damage had been done. It was not just the SP, the government also gave out details about the survivor and her family in the government order handing over the case to the CBI.
According to an order from the Tamil Nadu, the home department issued by the additional chief secretary Niranjan Mardi, Sujit Kumar, DCP (Traffic), Coimbatore city takes charge as the new SP of Coimbatore District. Meanwhile, R. Pandiarajan, the present SP of the district, who revealed the name of the girl in Pollachi sexual abuse case, has been kept in the waiting list.
K.G. Sivakumar, DSP, District Crime Records Bureau, Ooty will replace R. Jayaraman as DSP of Pollachi Sub Division, and R.Venkataraman, Inspector, Naxal special division, Coimbatore will replace Inspector A.Natesan.