Lavanya Suicide Case: Big Setback To DMK Govt As Supreme Court Refuses To Interfere With Madras HC Decision To Transfer Case From State Police To CBI

In a huge setback to the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court today refused to interject with Madras High Court's order to hand over the probe to Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI).

A special leave petition was filed by Tamil Nadu government, through the state's Director General of Police (DGP), before the Supreme Court challenging the order of the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) transferring the case from local police to the CBI.

A two-judge bench of the Apex Court of comprising of Sanjiv Khanna and Bela Trivedi heard the appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the Madras High Court.

On Jan 31, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court transferred the suicide case of 17-year-old Lavanya, a Class 12 student of Sacred Hearts Higher Secondary School in Michaelpatti of Thanjavur district, to the CBI.

A single bench comprising Justice GS Swaminathan passed the orders after a plea by Lavanya’s father seeking a probe by a central agency into his daughter’s death. The court ordered a CBI probe citing the dubious role of local police to suppress investigating the pressure for religious conversion as a possible cause for the girl's suicide. The order had heavily criticised Thanjavur SP Ravali Priya for holding a press conference ruling out conversion angle, stating that the SP ‘probably forgot the virtues of silence’.

Justice Swaminathan also pointed out to an interview given by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi. The Judge observed that since high ranking minister himself has taken a stand, investigation cannot continue with the state police.

In one of the recorded videos that emerged in public, Lavanya stated that she was was tortured and exploited by hostel warden Sagaya Mary, and was being forced to convert to Christianity.

The family of Lavanya has demanded a CBI probe in the suicide case. Lavanya's parents said that they do not trust the probe of Tamil Nadu Police and want CBI to investigate the matter .The family alleged that the police is ignoring religious conversion part and only focusing on harassment by the nuns.

Lavanya’s parents continued to maintain that the mistreatment was because Lavanya had refused to convert to Christianity.