The Madras High Court has directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Karur, to record the statement of a woman who was allegedly tortured by the police and attempted suicide.
Justice C.T. Selvam passed the order on a petition by M. Pari, an advocate, who stated that the 27-year-old victim was a Sri Lankan staying in a special camp at Karur. Her husband had been arrested in a murder case.
The petitioner submitted that the Sub-Inspector of Pasupathipalayam police station in Karur and other police personnel came to take the woman to the station on March 7 saying her husband wished to meet her.
She initially objected but, on the advice of the headman of the special camp, went with the police, accompanied by her mother.
Her mother was not allowed inside the station.
At the station, the victim was beaten up by the Sub-Inspector who also attempted to rape her.
She fell unconscious. Later, the police official took her and her mother in a police jeep and dropped her near the special camp.
The woman attempted suicide and was rushed to Government Hospital, Karur. The police official went there and warned her against making a statement against him.
The statement recorded by the JM, Karur the same day merely stated that she had attempted suicide. It did not give the entire facts.
The petitioner said as the victim's condition was grave and of great concern, it was necessary that a fresh statement be recorded.
Mr. Justice Selvam said though the prosecution had objected to the maintainability of the petition saying that the affidavit was filed by the advocate based on information gathered from another lawyer, the court was of the view that technicalities should not stand in the way of considering the petition. The court would, in the circumstances stated and given the fact that the victim of burn injuries was undergoing treatment in the hospital, consider the petition favourably.
