Student’s death case in Thanjavur: Supreme Court refuses to stay CBI’s investigation, said- follow the order of the High Court

The Supreme Court today refused to stay the CBI probe into the death of Lavanya, a student from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Apart from this, the court also issued notice on the petition of the Tamil Nadu government against the CBI investigation. The court asked the police to hand over the evidence collected on its behalf to the CBI and comply with the orders of the Madras High Court. The top court reprimanded and said that the state government should not make this matter a matter of prestige by opposing the decision of the High Court.

Two sides of the case: Supreme Court
A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Bela M Trivedi issued notice on an appeal filed by Tamil Nadu DGP challenging the Madras High Court order. The top court said that there are two aspects to the matter, one is that certain observations have been recorded in the impugned judgment and the other pertains to the final order directing the investigation by the CBI. The top court said it would not be proper for it to interfere in the CBI’s investigation but it would issue notice on the first aspect.

Government can reply to the notice issued in three weeks: Supreme Court
The bench said that the notice issued can be replied to within three weeks. Meanwhile, the investigation is going on with respect to the order to continue the investigation. The Madras High Court had handed over the investigation of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 31 January.

Learn about the case in detail
The deceased teenager was studying in a Christian missionary school in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. There she was allegedly harassed and the hostel warden forced her to do domestic work. In a video that surfaced on social media, the teenager had alleged that she was forcibly converted. After this the minor tried to kill himself. He was admitted to Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital but died during treatment on January 19.

The parents of the deceased had demanded an inquiry from another unit.
The parents of the deceased have demanded a probe by the Crime Branch, Crime Investigation Department (CBCID) or any other unit, saying they do not expect the state police to investigate the matter.

The Supreme Court today refused to stay the CBI probe into the death of Lavanya, a student from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Apart from this, the court also issued notice on the petition of the Tamil Nadu government against the CBI investigation. The court asked the police to hand over the evidence collected on its behalf to the CBI and comply with the orders of the Madras High Court. The top court reprimanded and said that the state government should not make this matter a matter of prestige by opposing the decision of the High Court.

Two sides of the case: Supreme Court

A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Bela M Trivedi issued notice on an appeal filed by Tamil Nadu DGP challenging the Madras High Court order. The top court said that there are two aspects to the matter, one is that certain observations have been recorded in the impugned judgment and the other pertains to the final order directing the investigation by the CBI. The top court said it would not be proper for it to interfere in the CBI’s investigation but it would issue notice on the first aspect.

Government can reply to the notice issued in three weeks: Supreme Court

The bench said that the notice issued can be replied to within three weeks. Meanwhile, the investigation is going on with respect to the order to continue the investigation. The Madras High Court had handed over the investigation of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 31 January.

Learn about the case in detail

The deceased teenager was studying in a Christian missionary school in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. There she was allegedly harassed and the hostel warden forced her to do domestic work. In a video that surfaced on social media, the teenager had alleged that she was forcibly converted. After this the minor tried to kill himself. He was admitted to Thanjavur Medical College and Hospital but died during treatment on January 19.

The parents of the deceased had demanded an inquiry from another unit.

The parents of the deceased have demanded a probe by the Crime Branch, Crime Investigation Department (CBCID) or any other unit, saying they do not expect the state police to investigate the matter.