TN Governor Gives Himself Clean Chit in Kamaraj University Audio Tape Case

Days after an audio tape of an assistant professor from Tamil Nadu, persuading girl students for “sex work” in return for “opportunities” went viral, two separate probes – one by Crime Branch CID, appointed by the state government and the other by retired IAS officer R. Santhanam, appointed by Governor Banwarilal Purohit – are looking into the “scandal”.

In the audio tape, Nirmala Devi, assistant professor of Devanga Arts College in Virudhunagar, affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj University, can be heard persuading her students to undertake an “assignment” for the university’s high-ranking officials. She is heard promising the students that some money will be transferred to their accounts directly and the matter would remain “highly confidential”.

Recently, Governor Banwarilal Purohit, the chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University, addressed a meeting held at the University. In the audio, Nirmala Devi, mentions about this meeting and she can be heard as making comments on Governor as “Thatha illai” meaning “not an old man” during her conversation with the girl students.

On April 17, Nirmala Devi was remanded in judicial custody for twelve days. Reportedly, while Devi admitted that it was her voice in the audio, she claimed that the students misunderstood her.

Despite the reference to Purohit in the audio, he gave a clean chit to himself during a press conference held on April 17 at Raj Bhavan. He rejected the allegation that Nirmala Devi may have insinuated the involvement of him by terming the accusations as “false, baseless and nonsense.” He denied any association with Nirmala Devi and told media persons that he did not even see her.

As Purohit is the Chancellor and his reference being made in the audio tape, the question that arises is whether his role will be probed by R. Santhanam, the one-man committee appointed by him. The report is to be submitted before April 30.

In an interview to The Hindu, Santhanam said that the terms of reference given to him is “to conduct an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the immoral conversation between the woman professor and the girl students”. He further said that he will follow the terms of reference and find out to what extent the University officials are involved in this issue.

Governor Purohit criticised for patting a woman scribe

During the press conference, journalists unleashed series of questions to Governor Purohit on the allegations of his association with Nirmala Devi. In his answers, Purohit completely denied his role in the controversy. To a question posed by Lakshmi Subramanian, a woman journalist, instead of answering her, Purohit patted on her cheek, which drew further controversy.

In response to this, Subramanian said she is angered and agitated. She said “You (Governor) didn't answer my questions, but you decided to patronisingly, and without my consent, pat on my cheek as a reply. To you, it might be a mark of appreciation, and a "grandfatherly" gesture, as you replied to several questions during the hour-long press conference on sexual allegations against you. But to me, it was an uninvited gesture as I wanted only answers and not a pat on my cheek.”