New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday took over the probe into the suicide of a 17-year-old girl in Thanjavur who was allegedly coerced to convert to Christianity and registered an FIR, ANI reported.
The development comes a day after the Supreme Court allowed the CBI to proceed with the probe.
The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal filed by Tamil Nadu Director General of Police, challenging a January 31, 2022 order of the Madurai bench of Madras High Court, which transferred the probe to CBI. The appeal contended that the High Court erred in transferring the probe to the CBI.
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The 17-year-old student of a missionary school in Thanjavur belonged to Ariyalur district. An unverified video had surfaced after her death in which the student alleged that she was harassed and abused because her family refused to convert to Christianity.
The school management, however, rejected the allegation and blamed vested interests.
In the police statement, as well as in the statement before the judicial magistrate, the girl accused the hostel warden of burdening her by assigning her non-academic chores and unable to bear the same, she consumed pesticide, PTI reported.
On January 19, the Class 12 student passed away at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital.
The hostel warden Sister Saghayamary was arrested and remanded into judicial custody. She was released on bail from Tiruchirapalli Central prison on Tuesday.
The incident has taken a potical turn, with Tamil Nadu's BJP calling it an example of forced conversions and has demanded action.