Sulur Girl Sexual Assault-Murder Case | 'Investigation Prima-Facie In Right Direction': Madras High Court Closes Plea For SIT Probe

The Madras High Court, on Friday (29 May), closed a plea seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the alleged sexual assault and killing of a minor girl in Sulur, Coimbatore. The bench of Justice GR Swaminathan and Justice V Lakshminarayanan orally remarked that the investigation was "prima facie" moving in the right direction. When the petitioner's counsel informed the court that social media posts were being made giving details of the minor's family and other theories were being made in connection with the crime, the court said it would pass detailed orders in this aspect."Prima facie we are of the opinion that investigation is going in the right direction. We cannot suspect the police every time," the bench orally remarked. When the matter was taken up on Friday, Advocate General Vijay Narayan informed the court that the State was taking best efforts in the case. The AG said that the investigation in the case (including DNA tests) was being fast-tracked and a special public prosecutor had been appointed who was instructed to give utmost attention to the case and ensure strict justice.The AG also lamented that it was a horrific incident and there are some people in society who, despite best policing by the state, may end up doing such crimes."It is a horrific incident. There are such people. In spite of best policing, sometimes, these instances cannot be prevented," the AG said. The court agreed and said that some people had a "perverted mindset". The prosecution has alleged that on May 21, 2026, the minor girl was kidnapped by her neighbour while she was out to buy groceries. When the child failed to return home, the family conducted localised searches and thereafter lodged a formal complaint. On May 22, the body of the minor was discovered. As per postmortem reports, the minor girl was subjected to aggravated sexual assault before her death, and the cause of death was asphyxiation due to manual strangulation. P Chockalingam, President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, North Tamil Nadu, has filed the present plea, seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. In his plea, Chockalingam stated that a court-monitored investigation was necessary in the case to ensure that the investigation remains uninfluenced by external pressures, conflicting accounts, or media-driven narratives. The petitioner also stated that in a recent media briefing, senior police officials, including the Inspector General of Police, West Zone, were seen laughing and smiling. It has been argued that such conduct, in relation to an offence of extreme gravity, has generated widespread public outrage and undermined public confidence in the seriousness and sensitivity expected from the investigating authorities. The petitioner added that the continued circulation of such videos has a tendency to sensationalise and prejudice the investigation process, thereby necessitating judicial supervision to ensure a fair, restrained, and professionally conducted investigation. Pointing to previous instances like the Anna University Sexual Assault Case and the Anna Nagar sexual assault case, where an SIT was constituted and the investigation was carried out, the petitioner argued that such directions were necessary in the present case also to ensure expeditious trial.The AG also assured the court today that the State was dealing with crimes against women and children with iron hands and procedures would be put in place for the same. Considering the submissions, the court disposed of the plea and said it would pass orders in connection with the social media posts. Case Title: P Chockalingam v The Additional Chief Secretary to GovernmentCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Mad) 226 Case No: WP 20733 of 2026

Sulur Girl Sexual Assault-Murder Case | 'Investigation Prima-Facie In Right Direction': Madras High Court Closes Plea For SIT Probe

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Sulur Girl Sexual Assault-Murder Case | 'Investigation Prima-Facie In Right Direction': Madras High Court Closes Plea For SIT Probe

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