Lois Sofia Case : Magistrate Directs Police To Act On Complaint Against TN BJP President Tamilisai[Read Order]

A Judicial Magistrate of Tuticorin has forwarded to Pudukkottai police the complaint filed against Tamil Nadu BJP President Tamilisai Soundarajan and ten others for allegedly threatening and intimidating student Lois Sofia at Tuticorin airport. The complaint has been forwarded to investigate and register FIR. The police has been asked to report the matter before Court on or before November 20.

On September 3, Lois Sofia,a 28 year old woman, had raised anti-BJP slogans in the presence of Tamilisai at Tuticorin airport. Following this, Tamilisai and her supporters had allegedly threatened and intimidated Sofia. On the basis of complaint by Tamilisai, Pudukkottai police registered FIR against Sofia for offences punishable under IPC Sections 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 290 (public nuisance) and Section 75 of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act. She was initially remanded to 15 days judicial custody by the Magistrate, and was released on bail after a day.

While so, Sofia's father, Dr A A Sami, a retired government doctor filed a complaint before Pudukkottai police against Tamilisai and her followers alleging that they abused, intimidated and threatened his daughter at the airport, and sought for registration of FIR against them for Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), Section 294(b) (uttering obscenity), 506(i)(criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and for offences under Tamil Nadu Woman Harassment Act.

Since no action was taken by police on the complaint, he approached the Judicial Magistrate. He produced a CD containing visuals of threatening by party members and contended that it happened due to instigation by Tamilisai. The Magistrate observed that on the basis of materials produced there is "sufficient ground to register complaint against persons who came along with 1st respondent Tamilisai Sounderrajan". 

"Since the offence alleged to be happened at airport and in respect of allegations against the respondents the CCTV footage stated to be available at airport and at Pudukottai Police Station has to be verified for the investigation before lodging the FIR against the respondents(sic)",the Magistrate further observed in the order.

Therefore, the complaint was forwarded to the police under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure to investigate and register FIR against the respondents. The police has been directed to report the matter to the Court on or before November 20.