A petition has been filed before the Madras High Court seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged sexual assault and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Sulur, Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.
Filed by P. Chockalingam, President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (North Tamil Nadu), the petition contended that the incident occurred on May 21, 2026, when the minor was allegedly abducted by a neighbour while she had stepped out to purchase groceries.
According to the plea, when the child did not return home, her family initiated a search and subsequently lodged a police complaint. Her body was recovered on May 22. The post-mortem examination reportedly indicated that she had been subjected to brutal sexual assault before being strangulated to death.
The petitioner contended that a court-monitored investigation through an SIT was necessary to ensure a fair and impartial probe, which formed part of the guarantees under Article 21 of the Constitution. It emphasised the necessity of judicial oversight to safeguard investigative neutrality, particularly in light of external pressures, competing narratives, and extensive media coverage that may potentially influence the course of investigation.
The plea referred to a recent media briefing involving senior police officials, including the Inspector General of Police, West Zone, and alleged that the tone and demeanour displayed during the interaction appeared casual in view of the seriousness of the offence. It was submitted that this had raised public concern regarding procedural sensitivity in cases involving heinous crimes against minors.
Further, the petition highlighted the circulation of video clips and media content relating to the investigation, arguing that such dissemination may prejudice the probe and shape public perception, thereby affecting the fairness of the investigation. It asserted that unrestricted media reporting risked undermining the integrity of the process.
Reliance was also placed on previous instances, including incidents such as the Anna University sexual assault case and the Anna Nagar sexual assault case, where SITs were constituted under judicial directions to ensure structured and time-bound investigations.
The petitioner alleged violation of statutory protections afforded to child victims, pointing out that certain media reports have disclosed sensitive information related to the victim’s family, in contravention of safeguards under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which prohibited disclosure of a child victim’s identity.
The plea sought directions restraining publication of speculative, sensationalised, or unverified content relating to the investigation, contending that such reporting may interfere with the probe and compromise the dignity and privacy of the victim’s family during the pendency of proceedings in Coimbatore.
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