The Supreme Court said it would ensure a “smooth investigation” in the Hathras case.
New Delhi:
Questions about the protection of the family and witnesses in the torture and alleged gang rape case of a 20-year-old woman from Hathras arose today before the Supreme Court. Questioning what steps have been taken in this regard, the court issued a notification to the Uttar Pradesh government. The court also questioned whether the family has access to a lawyer.
The petition, filed by social activist Satyama Dubey and others, sought to have a Central Bureau of Investigation or a Special Investigation Team investigate the case that had sparked national outrage.
In a call for a “fair” investigation, the petition also pointed to the role of the Uttar Pradesh Police, which has been criticized for its alleged lax handling of the case, its secret cremation of the body at 2.30am and clashes with the opposition. leaders who tried to visit family.
The court asked the women’s group why they had not approached the Allahabad High Court.
When their lawyer Kirti Singh said that they wanted a transfer of the case, which is already pending in the Allahabad High Court, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said: “The Allahabad High Court is hearing the case … the opinion of the Superior Court … If the Superior Court makes a mistake, we are here. ” The court also assured the petitioners that it would guarantee a “smooth investigation” in the case.
“We want to hear from all of you what is the current scope of the Allahabad High Court proceedings,” the court said. Chief Justice Bobde also asked for suggestions to broaden the scope of proceedings before the Superior Court.
In an affidavit to the court, the state government said the post-midnight cremation was intended to “prevent large-scale violence” the following morning.
There was intelligence input on a “major public order problem” in view of the Babri mosque verdict a day later and a high alert was declared in the district, the government said.
Pointing out the hasty and secret cremation of the police, overriding the family’s wishes and keeping them locked inside their home had led to condemnation from the opposition to Yogi Adityanath’s government.
Many parties, including Congress, have claimed it was a “cover-up.”
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