Three Minor Survivors Accuse Tamil Nadu Govt. Lawyer Of Coercion

The three minor survivors of sexual abuse have accused the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) of the Sivaganga Mahila Court in Tamil Nadu for allegedly plotting with their abuser and forcing them to turn hostile in court. In 2015, six students accused the headmaster of a Panchayat Union Primary School, Murugan, of allegedly sexually abusing them. The three minors were among the six students.

As per News minute, the SPP also instructed them to deny any abuse by the headmaster in court. The girls have alleged that a female government lawyer made them meet Murugan in court and allowed him to coerce them. One of the minors reportedly said, “Indira Gandhi lawyer only forced me to say what I said in front of court about Murugan teacher." She further added, "I realized this only after I became a big girl.”

Some takeaways:

• The case came into light in 2019 when Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohith Nathan took charge of Sivaganga district.
• The SP wrote to the District Collector and requested  SPP be replaced by Sivasankaran, Deputy Director of Prosecution, Sivagana, in the interest of the case.
• The SPP has denied the allegations made against her.

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"The offense alleged against the accused is not only against the children but also against the society at large and the crime is heinous in nature."

The case came into light in 2019 again when Superintendent of Police (SP) Rohith Nathan took in charge of Sivaganga district. A senior officer told the news minute "We were reviewing cases pending in court last year based on the SP's instructions and found that this case was heading towards an acquittal despite all the evidence being in our favor." He further added, "When we contacted the families of the survivors they confessed that they were being threatened by both the headmaster and the Special Public Prosecutor."

The SP wrote to the District Collector and requested  SPP be replaced by Sivasankaran, Deputy Director of Prosecution, Sivagana, in the interest of the case. He wrote in his letter "In this case, there are six innocent girls who are victims and their ages are between 9 and 10 years. I further submit that the Special Public Prosecutor who is conducting this case is not satisfied with us and if she continued the prosecution in this case, the accused will definitely escape from the clutches of the law." Further, he added, "The offense alleged against the accused is not only against the children but also against the society at large and the crime is heinous in nature."

"They said if we testify, he will lose his job and that the whole family will have to kill themselves."

One of the survivors said "Police told us that we have to appear in court to give our statement on April 25, 2016. Knowing this, headmaster Murugan and his wife came to our house." She also added, "They said if we testify, he will lose his job and that the whole family will have to kill themselves." Further, she said "They fell at our legs and cried. Murugan also said that he will help our family monetarily."  The SPP has denied the allegations made against her.

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Mansi is an Intern at SheThePeople.TV