HC orders CBI probe into sexual assault of girl

THE Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the sexual assault of a schoolgirl after finding that the Greater Chennai Police had violated procedures under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act while holding investigations.

- R SIVAKUMAR

The court slammed the police for being insensitive to the nature of the offence, ill-treatment of the victim, beating up of her parents by a woman inspector, and delay in arresting the accused. A division bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and V Sivagnanam ordered the CBI probe while disposing of a suo motu case and a habeas corpus petition (HCP) filed by the mother of the nine-and-a-halfyear-old Class 5 girl. Commenting that the manner in which the case was registered and the conduct of the investigation raised "serious doubts and suspicion”, the bench said the court en