SC allows CBI probe in 'rape videos on WhatsApp' case

The Supreme Court Friday on allowed a CBI probe into the posting of rape videos on a chat groups, WhatsApp, thereby taking over the investigation from the Uttar Pradesh police in which three persons, suspected to be involved in the crime, were arrested under milder penal provisions and then released on bail.

The Supreme Court Friday on allowed a CBI probe into the posting of rape videos on a chat groups, WhatsApp, thereby taking over the investigation from the Uttar Pradesh police in which three persons, suspected to be involved in the crime, were arrested under milder penal provisions and then released on bail.

“We direct that investigation in the FIR lodged in 2014 at Sitapur (UP) is transferred to the CBI...We also make it clear that the CBI can conduct further investigation and file fresh charge sheets in the case,” ordered the social justice bench of justices Madan B Lokur and UU Lalit.

The court has ordered a CBI probe into the different gangrape incidents whose videos were circulated on group chat and later posted on social networking sites.

The order permitting CBI to take over investigation of a case from UP police came when the central probe agency’s counsel additional solicitor general Maninder Singh said there could be a legal bar against his client to conduct a deeper inquiry into the matter as the local police had registered the case.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress made by CBI in the probe, the bench said that they have registered eight regular cases (RCs) and one PE (preliminary investigation) and so far, identified culprits in two cases.