Pollachi gang rape case: From lapses to landmark conviction

Coimbatore: The Pollachi serial gang rape case had exposed serious procedural lapses and deep flaws in the handling of crimes against women. Yet, it also stands as an example of how a mishandled investigation was eventually brought back on track through joint efforts of police, the CBI, and the judiciary—ultimately leading to the conviction of all the perpetrators.

When the rape survivors were not forthcoming to complain, it was former Pollachi DSP R Jayaram, accompanied by sub-inspector T Rajendraprasath, who first visited the house of the 19-year-old girl and persuaded her family to file a formal complaint in February 2019.

"They were worried about the girl's safety. But we managed to convince them to lodge a complaint," said Rajendraprasath.

However, the investigation that followed was shoddy. One of the most serious lapses was the public disclosure of the survivor's identity by then Coimbatore SP R Pandiarajan. The move was seen as a deliberate attempt to deter other survivors from filing complaints.

In addition, police downplayed the scale of the crime, treating it as an isolated case involving just one survivor. Only after widespread public outrage and political pressure, the SP was transferred and the case handed over to the CB-CID.

Eventually, the probe began to gather momentum when CB-CID SP Nisha Parthiban took charge. She identified other survivors from videos recovered from the gang's mobile phones and personally approached them.

She convinced several victims to file complaints, bringing out the gravity of the crime. However, police once again came under criticism when the accused were allowed to meet family members en route to Salem prison in 2021. The case was then transferred to CBI.

CBI SP Vijay Vaishnavi and CBI inspector Pachaiyammal pursued the investigation with equal diligence. They meticulously built a watertight case and ensured there were no gaps in the prosecution.

The trial began in February 2023 before Coimbatore District Mahila Court judge R Nandhini Devi, who conducted the proceedings with utmost sensitivity. The trial was held in camera, with tight protection to survivors and witnesses. As a result, none of them turned hostile.

"She gave the survivors and witnesses the confidence and encouragement to record their statements without fear in court," said B Jisha, special public prosecutor at the Mahila court.

Jisha said although judicial transfers are routine every three years, Judge Nandhini Devi continued to preside over the Mahila court for four years to ensure continuity of the trial.