CB-CID wants to do Nirmala Devi’s voice test in Chennai

Says the forensic lab in the State capital is better equipped

MADURAI

The CB-CID filed a petition before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday, seeking permission to take Assistant Professor Nirmala Devi to Chennai for a voice test. Nirmala Devi is the key accused in the case of alleged attempt to traffic college girls for academic and financial gains.

The CB-CID sought permission to take Nirmala Devi to Forensic Science Laboratory in Chennai for a voice test. The investigating agency said that the Chennai forensic lab was better equipped to conduct such a test. The voice test was sought to scientifically prove if the voice heard in a leaked audio was that of Nirmala Devi.

She is heard trying to lure a group of students of Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai into fulfilling sexual favours for academic and financial gains. Nirmala Devi is under judicial custody since her arrest on April 16.

Hearing the plea, Justice D. Krishnakumar directed notice to Nirmala Devi seeking a response and adjourned the case for further hearing till June 22.

Earlier, the Judicial Magistrate Court II, Virudhunagar, had rejected CB-CID’s plea stating that the investigating agency could instead conduct a voice test at Madurai Central Prison itself, where she is currently lodged.

Meanwhile, S. Karuppasamy, a former Ph.D. Scholar with Madurai Kamaraj University, withdrew his bail plea filed before the High Court Bench. Justice G.R. Swaminathan subsequently dismissed the petition.

Karuppasamy is one of the accused in the audio tape case. The court refused to find merit in his affidavit, in which he claimed to be innocent and said the case against him was false. Karuppasamy is also lodged at Madurai Central Prison.