The panel set up to probe the sex scandal in Arupukottai on Thursday, questioned Nirmala Devi, an assistant professor of a private college who allegedly prodded students to extend sexual favours to officials of MKU. This was the second phase of enquiry being conducted by Santhanam.

Retired IAS officer R Santhanam, appointed by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit to probe the alleged incident, was accompanied by two women professors during the investigations.

Earlier, he had interacted with the Vice-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) P Chellathurai and its registrar V Chinniah about the allegation against Nirmala Devi, assistant professor at the Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar district.

The CB-CID, which is probing the scandal, has held several rounds of interrogation with Nirmala Devi before arresting her.

She was arrested on April 16, a day after an audio clip went viral on the social media, in which she purportedly sought to persuade girls to consider extending sexual favours to senior officials of MKU, to which the college is affiliated.