The suicide case of the 17-yr-old Lavanya from Thanjavur, is currently under the purview of Central Bureau of Investigation following the order from Madurai Bench of Madras High Court.
However, the Tamil Nadu government had appealed to the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court’s verdict which ordered for the case to be handed over to the CBI.
A special leave petition was filed by Tamil Nadu government, through the state’s Director General of Police (DGP). 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.
As a major breakthrough in this situation, the Supreme Court has upheld the High Courts order. The Supreme Court has said that it will not interfere in the ongoing CBI probe in the case. The apex court also said that the CBI is to very much look into, or probe the forced conversion angle of the case as well. Addressing the Tamil Nadu government, the Supreme Court has said “Don’t make it a prestige issue”. In addition to all this, Tamil Nadu police are now asked to handover all the evidence related to this case, to the CBI.
A few days ago, Sagaya Mary, who was detained in the Trichy Central Jail, was released on bail. She was welcomed by DMK Trichy East MLA, Inigo Irudayaraj who honoured her with a shawl.
Lavanya’s family demanded a CBI probe as they alleged that they did not have faith in the probe of the Tamil Nadu Police.
Lavanya, who was studying in class 12 at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School in Michaelpatti near Thanjavur, committed suicide by drinking pesticide after she was allegedly tortured to convert to Christianity by the school. Lavanya’s parents alleged that there was an attempt to forcefully convert their child and become a nun which the child had rejected and hence was subject to torture.
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