‘Ensure lawful probe into Anna Nagar child rape case’

Chennai: Madras high court on Tuesday directed the special investigation team (SIT) constituted to probe the Anna Nagar child rape case to ensure that the probe is conducted in accordance with law and without deviation from the statutory safeguards contemplated under the Pocso Act. A division bench of Justice P Velmurugan and Justice M Jothimani also directed the SIT to conduct the probe in the case registered for revealing the identity of the minor victim in a fair, impartial and expeditious manner.The Chennai special court for Pocso Act cases shall conduct the trial of the case on a day-to-day basis and dispose of the matter. The court shall also determine the final compensation payable to the victim, the bench said."It is clarified that the departmental proceeding initiated against the police officers for leaking the identity of the victim shall be conducted independently and concluded in accordance with the applicable service rules without being influenced by the pendency of the criminal case," the bench added. "Considering the nature of the allegations and apprehensions expressed, the city police are directed to provide adequate protection to the victim and her parents and to ensure that the trial proceeds in a fair and transparent manner," the judges said. The court passed the orders on a suo motu plea initiated by the court and a habeas corpus plea moved by the mother of the survivor. The issue pertains to the sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl residing in Anna Nagar, Chennai, in 2024. When the parents went to file a complaint, the Anna Nagar all-women police assaulted them.