After days of Tiruchengode Deputy Superintendent of police Vishnupriya’s death, the controversy surrounding the case has become murkier.
Though the State government had handed over the case to the CB-CID, opposition parties DMK, DMDK, Congress and CPI (M) have demanded that the State government must transfer the suicide case to the CBI.
Opposition parties DMK, Congress and Puthiya Thamizhagam staged a walk out from the Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday raising the demand for a CBI probe. CPI(M) MLAs who demanded a discussion on Vishnupriya’s death and a recent custodial death were evicted from the assembly by marshals.
The demand for a CBI probe comes in the wake of allegations by Vishnupriya’s friends and relatives that she committed suicide due to harassment from her superiors.
Vishnupriya, who was found dead on September 18, 2015 in her house, was the investigating officer in the controversial murder case of dalit youth Gokulraj murder case. Gokulraj was kidnapped and murdered in June for allegedly being friendly with a woman from a higher caste.
Vishnupriya’s batch-mate, close friend and fellow police officer in another district, Maheshwari said, “The SPs and DSPs in the case were pressurizing her to put Goondas Act on those unrelated to the murder since their remand period was coming to an end.” There have been source-based media reports too, which state that before she was found hanging, officers were trying to speak her regarding a Goondas act case.
Highlighting Maheshwari’s statement, DMDK leader Vijayakanth said to The Times of India, “The death has created panic among women police. Vishnupriya's suicide seven months after joining the service raises lot of doubts”.
Dalit-based party VCK’s chief Thirumavalavan said that it was difficult believing that a young and passionate officer would commit suicide. “Her father was a police officer. She was well educated, and knew what it meant to be in the police force. It is not easy to believe that she took her life because of the general work-pressure on her,” he said, speaking to The News Minute.
Both the Gokulraj murder case and DSP Vishnupriya’s cases were handed over to CB CID. But the opposition is stepping up the demand for a CBI enquiry. Known to not entertain requests by opposition leaders, it is highly unlikely that the TN CM Jayalalithaa will hand over the case to CBI.