The Government said steps were being taken to severely punish these police personnel. An RDO inquiry had already been ordered into Chitra's death, and after getting the report necessary action would be taken. The CB-CID, which was asked to go into the case by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, submitted its report to him today.

An official press release said as per the post-mortem report there was no evidence to show Chitra was raped or beaten. According to the doctors, the death was due to hanging. So, the allegation made by Ravi (Chitra's husband) that she was molested and punched in the chest whileshe was at the police station was unfounded.

Similarly, the experts who went into the genuineness of a suicide note, purportedly written by Chitra, had found that it was not written by her. Someone, due to political reasons, had written that letter and later distributed copies which resulted in violence. The probe to find out the author of the letter was on. The CB-CID report had stated that Chitra could have decided to commit suicide in view of the stigma caused by the questioning in the police station in connection with a theft case involving her husband.

SPEEDY ACTION: Commenting on the CB-CID report, a top DMK leader told The Indian Express that the inquiry had shattered the false allegation made by some vested interests that Chitra was raped and tortured in the police station. The State Government's action in suspending 12 personnel was yet another instance of proof that law breakers would not be spared.

Comparing this incident with that of the rape of Padmini in the Annamalai Nagarpolice station during the AIADMK regime, the leader charged that the then Government totally denied that Padmini was raped. Moreover, the CB-CID inquiry was ordered only after the various political parties including the DMK organised agitations. ``Whereas in the Chitra case the DMK regime ordered a CB-CID probe immediately after the incident and took necessary follow-up action after getting the probe report,'' he added.