The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday allowed the CB-CID to take Assistant Professor Nirmala Devi to Chennai for a voice test. She is the key accused in the case of alleged attempt to traffic students of Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai for academic and financial gains.
Justice D. Krishnakumar, hearing the plea filed by the CB-CID, permitted it to take Nirmala Devi to Chennai for the voice test to be conducted at the Forensic Science Laboratory from June 27 to 29. The court directed the investigating agency to produce her back at the Madurai Central Prison, where she is currently lodged, after the test.
The court took note of the counter-affidavit filed by Nirmala Devi in which she stated that she had no objection to have the test done in Chennai. The CB-CID had sought permission to take her to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Chennai for a voice test stating that it was better equipped to conduct the test.
The test was essential to scientifically prove that the voice heard in a leaked audio was indeed that of Nirmala Devi.
In the audio, she is heard trying to lure a group of college girls into fulfilling certain favours for top officials of Madurai Kamaraj University for academic and financial gains. Following the audio leak, she was suspended from the college and arrested on the charges of attempting to traffic college girls. She has been in judicial custody since her arrest on April 16.
While rejecting the CB-CID plea earlier, the Judicial Magistrate Court II, Virudhunagar, observed that the investigating agency could instead conduct a voice test at the Madurai Central Prison itself.