TN court convicts former female teacher in case of attempted sex trafficking of girl students

IANS, Chennai, April 29, 2024 : A fast-track court for women’s cases in Tamil Nadu’s Srivilliputtur on Monday convicted former assistant professor Nirmala Devi on charges of attempted sex trafficking of four girl students in 2018. 

Judge T.T. Bagavathiyammal, however, accused two other accused, Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) assistant professor V. Murugan and former MKU research scholar S. Karuppasamy was acquitted.

Nirmala Devi will be sentenced on Tuesday.

The issue, which sent shock waves across the state, had reached the office of the Tamil Nadu Governor. However, then Governor Banwarilal Purohit rejected the link to the crime.

An audio clip between Nirmala Devi, assistant professor in the department of mathematics at Devanga Arts College in Arupukottai, and four female students, in which she was attempting to convince them to provide sexual favours, went viral in 2018.

The prosecution has alleged that Nirmala Devi had asked the girls to do something as expected by the higher authorities of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) and in return the students would get higher marks in the semester examinations, as well as money and seats. At MKU for postgraduate studies.

During this conversation he also mentioned the Governor's office.

However, all four girls lodged a complaint with the college authorities. Subsequently, the Aruppukottai Town Police arrested Nirmala Devi and the case was transferred to the Crime Branch-CID. CB-CID arrested Murugan and Karuppasamy after investigation.

Nirmala Devi, Murugan and Karuppasamy were charged under sections 370 (1) A (3), and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code as well as the Immortal Trafficking Act, Information Technology Act and Tamil Nadu Prohibition o Harassment. Women's Act.

The fast-track court judge found Nirmala Devi guilty of attempted smuggling and trafficking under provisions of the Immoral Trafficking Act and the Information Technology Act, while acquitting the other two accused.