TN student Lavanya suicide: CBI takes over probe

CHENNAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday took over the investigation of Lavanya

suicide

case reported in Tamil Nadu’s

Thanjavur

last month.


The central agency has filed an FIR against Sagayamary, the warden of St Michael Women's Hostel in Thirukattupalli, in connection with the unnatural death of the 17-year-old girl.

It has booked cases under sections 305 (abetment of suicide of child) and 511 (attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment) and the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.

Lavanya's father Muruganantham had earlier complained that Sagayamary and another nun asked her to convert to Christianity and the warden made her clean hostel rooms, which pushed his daughter to take the extreme step.

Though Thanjavur police filed a case, Muruganantham approached the Madras high court demanding a CB-CID probe or any other independent investigating agency as he had lost faith in the Thanjavur police's investigation.

A bench comprising Justice GR Swaminathan ordered a CBI to investigate the case. Though the Tamil Nadu government challenged the order in the SC, the apex court allowed the central agency to continue the probe.