Chitra committed suicide, says inquiry panel

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY 18. The One man commission headed by Mr. M. Maruthamuthu, retired Judge of the Madras High Court which inquired into the circumstances leading to the death of Chitra of Meenakshi Nagar, a city suburb, on October 13, 1998 has held that the woman had committed suicide unable to bear the shame and dishonour brought about by the theft committed by her husband.

The report of the Commission tabled in the State Assembly today termed as false and concocted one the suicide note containing the allegation that Chitra was taken to the police station and raped by policemen. The allegation of molestation of Chitra by police personnel was not true.

Accepting the findings, the Government said the Commission's recommendation for the reinstatement of all the police officials involved in the investigation of the theft case in which Chitra's husband Ravi was an accused, would be referred to the Home Department for detailed examination and necessary action.

The Commission also held as unsustainable the conclusions expressed by the member of the National Commission for Women (NCW) that Chitra was beaten up very badly, disrobed and raped and that there was inordinate delay in removing the body of Chitra for post-mortem examination.

The NCW report placed in the House along with that of the Commission said that although the commission of rape or other criminal assault on Chitra ``is yet to be proved, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the police had beaten her up very badly and that too inside a room''. It had also been proved that the husband was also beaten inside the room and he had to witness her being ``disrobed and raped. This is the most cruel, heinous and undignified act''.

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Section  : Southern States
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