The Kerala High Court has refused to quash the magistrate court proceedings in the sexual assault case against former Malappuram SP S. Sujith Das and two other police officers.

The High Court dismissed the plea filed by Mr. Das, former Tirur DySP V.V. Benny, and former Ponnani CI Vinod Valiyattor, who had sought to quash the magistrate court proceedings against them.

The woman complainant alleged that the police officers had sexually assaulted her after she approached the police over a family dispute. The court held that the petitioners’ contention that prior permission from senior officers was required before ordering an investigation against them would not apply in grave cases such as sexual assault.