A hearing on a petition filed seeking cancellation of the 10-year prison sentence imposed on Professor Nirmala Devi in the case of misbehaving with college students was held yesterday in the Madurai branch of the Madras High Court.
On April 30, the District Magistrate Court in Srivilliputhur sentenced Professor Nirmala Devi to 10 years in jail for misleading female students of a private college in Aruppukkottai, Virudhunagar district. Also, a fine of Rs.2.45 lakh was imposed. Following this Professor Nirmala Devi was lodged in Madurai Central Jail.
Earlier, when the case came up for hearing on April 29, the court ordered the release of the 2nd and 3rd accused in the case, Madurai Kamaraj University Professor Murugan and research student Karuppasamy.
In this situation, Professor Nirmala Devi, who is in Madurai Central Jail, filed a petition in the Madurai Branch of the High Court.
In it, “The order issued by the Srivilliputhur Mahila Court, which sentenced me to 10 years imprisonment in the case of sexually misleading college girls, should be cancelled. An interim bail should be ordered till the disposal of this case. I will abide by the conditions imposed by the court.
In this case, the court ordered the acquittal of the 2nd and 3rd accused, Madurai Kamaraj University professor Murugan and research student Karuppasamy. He was acquitted saying that the charge was not proved.
It was for Madurai Kamaraj University professor Murugan and research student Karuppaswamy that I tried talking to the students on cell phones. No one was harmed. After acquitting the culprits, it was not acceptable to convict me on several counts and sentence me to 10 years imprisonment.
Therefore, in this case, I have been sentenced to 10 years in prison, Srivilliputhur District. The sentence imposed by the Magistrate Court should be quashed and ordered. An interim bail should be granted until the case is over,
The petition came up for hearing in the High Court Division, before Justice Abdul Kuddoos. At that time, the Virudhunagar CBCID police, who investigated the case, ordered to file a reply and the judge adjourned the case to June 7.
