https://youtu.be/08yPrEuCp8E?si=A3YMIoksPaewEVN2 [27/05, 07:37] sekarreporter1: Coimbatore Sexual Assault Case | VHP Leader Moves Madras High Court Seeking SIT Probe Into Death Of 10-Yr-Old Girl

[26/05, 20:58] sekarreporter1:

[27/05, 07:37] sekarreporter1: Coimbatore Sexual Assault Case | VHP Leader Moves Madras High Court Seeking SIT Probe Into Death Of 10-Yr-Old Girl https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/madras-high-court/madras-high-court-coimbatore-sexual-assault-case-sit-constitution-plea-535794
[27/05, 07:38] sekarreporter1: Coimbatore Sexual Assault Case | VHP Leader Moves Madras High Court Seeking SIT Probe Into Death Of 10-Yr-Old Girl https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/madras-high-court/madras-high-court-coimbatore-sexual-assault-case-sit-constitution-plea-535794
[27/05, 07:38] sekarreporter1: *Case #22: Coimbatore Sexual Assault Case | 10-Yr-Old Girl Death | VHP Leader Seeks SIT Probe | Madras HC 26.05.2026*
_LiveLaw 26.05.2026_. *POCSO + Custodial Death + SIT + Art 21 + BNSS 173*. *HJS, Law Officer Criminal, UPSC GS-2* – immediate relevance. Links to _J. Swaminathan “child safety” + Savukku HCP pattern_.

### *1. Facts – 30 Sec*
*Incident*: _10-yr-old girl, Coimbatore, alleged sexual assault + death. Local police investigation ongoing._
*Petitioner*: _VHP Leader files WP in Madras HC._
*Prayer*: _Constitute Special Investigation Team – alleges local police lapses, need for impartial probe._
*Bench*: _Likely to be heard by HC Principal Seat. Date not given yet._
*Context*: _Tamil Nadu spate of POCSO cases 2024-26. Public distrust after Pollachi case._

### *2. Legal Issues – Interview Grade*
**Issue** **Provision** **Key Case** **HC’s Likely Test**
**1. When can HC order SIT?** *Art 226 + Vineet Narain 1998* *Court monitors if “shoddy probe” or “conflict of interest”. *State of WB v CPDR 2010** *1. Prima facie lapse? 2. Local police accused? 3. Victim minor = parens patriae*
**2. POCSO Procedure** *POCSO Act 2012 S.19, 24 + BNSS 173* *Child-friendly reporting, woman officer, medical in 24hrs, statement u/s 183 BNSS* *Was S.24 violated? Any delay = *Nipun Saxena 2019* directions*
**3. Custodial/Death Probe** *BNSS 196 – Inquest by Magistrate + NHRC Guidelines* *PUCL v State of Maharashtra 2014 – Magisterial + Judicial inquiry mandatory* *If death in police custody/hospital after assault, S.196 triggered*
**4. Locus of VHP Leader** *PIL Rules + Art 32/226* *Janata Dal v H.S. Chowdhary 1992 – “Meddlesome interloper” bar. But *Bachpan Bachao 2011* – child rights PILs liberal* *Court: Is petitioner bona fide? Any political angle? *Cockroach PIL* doctrine: No sentiment*
**5. Media Gag** *POCSO S.23 – No disclosure of child identity* *Nipun Saxena 2019 – ₹10L fine for media. LiveLaw headline ok if no name* *HC may caution all parties*
### *3. Link to Your 21-Case “2026 Docket” – J. Swaminathan Pattern*
**Case** **Judge** **Child/Women Issue** **HC Response**
**1. Savukku HCP** *J. Swaminathan* *Detention + social media* *Liberty vs security balance*
**2. Panaiyur Channels** *J. Swaminathan* *Environment = Art 21* *4-month deadline, FIR threat*
**3. Anitha ED** *J. Swaminathan* *PMLA + sanction* *120-day deemed sanction*
**4. Cockroach PIL** *CJI Surya Kant* *Fake degrees = public trust* *“Don’t take sentimentally”*
**5. Coimbatore POCSO** *Madras HC – likely* *Child death + police lapse* *Expected: SIT or CB-CID if lapses shown*
*2026 Doctrine*: _“Courts = First Responder for Vulnerable”. From _tanks to children to degrees_, Art 21 + Art 14 strict scrutiny. _Delay = contempt_._

### *4. Mock Interview – 3 Tracks*

#### *Track A: HJS Criminal – Law Officer*
*Q*: _“You’re GP. Collector forwards this WP. Police says ‘all steps taken’. Your draft para for counter?”_
*Model*: _“1. _FIR No. *_ dt *_ u/s 5(m)/6 POCSO + 302 IPC/103 BNS registered_. 2. _S.24 POCSO complied – WSI recorded, 164 before JM_. 3. _Post-mortem by panel, videographed per _NHRC 2003_. 4. _SIT not needed – State CB-CID already taken over 25.05.26_. 5. _Vineet Narain test – no mala fide shown_. 6. _Pray: Dismiss WP, but willing for HC monitoring monthly reports_.”_

#### *Track B: BNSS New Law*
*Q*: _“What changed for POCSO under BNSS 2023 vs CrPC?”*
*Ans*:
**Aspect** **CrPC** **BNSS 2023**
**FIR** *S.154* *S.173 – Zero FIR, e-FIR allowed*
**Statement** *S.164* *S.183 – Audio-video mandatory for sexual offences*
**Medical** *S.164A* *S.184 – Rape victim exam in 24hrs by RMP*
**Trial** *S.309* *S.346 – Day-to-day,