The Madras High Court has ordered an inquiry into a police officer’s handling of a POCSO victim who was allowed to leave with an accused in the pending case.
Justices A. D. Jagadish Chandira and B. Murugesan issued the September 30 directions while hearing a mother’s habeas corpus petition.
The woman, now an adult, appeared before the bench and said she had left voluntarily and did not wish to return to her parents. The court found that she was not illegally detained.
It nevertheless criticised the officer’s decision to permit her to accompany the accused despite knowing their respective roles in the prosecution. The bench found that the situation violated conditions imposed when the accused was granted bail.
The district police superintendent was directed to inquire into the handling of the matter, take appropriate action under law and ensure the woman’s safety. The investigating police were also directed to take appropriate steps concerning the bail-condition violation.
The habeas corpus petition was closed with these directions; the court did not determine guilt in the underlying POCSO trial.