E-Paper
Shimla gangrape-murder: Himachal HC asks CBI to probe case, form SIT in 2 days
The state government on July 14 recommended the investigation by CBI.
The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the Kotkhai rape and murder case and constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within two days.
The court has directed CBI to form an SIT headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officials with two other DSP rank officers. The court has also directed it to probe the custodial death of accused Suraj Kumar.
On the petition of state, the division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Sanjau karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma passed these orders. The bench also directed state to provide all kinds of assistance to the SIT.
A day after police SIT arrested six accused two Nepalese in this case, the state government on July 14 recommended the investigation by CBI.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct CBI to probe the matter. Even after police arrested some accused, alleging that the investigation was botched up and 'real culprits' has been saved, public staged protests at various places.
Seeing no end to the public outrage and no response from CBI so far, the state government on Tuesday filed a petition in High Court seeking directions to CBI to probe the Kotkhai rape.
Advocate general Shrawan Dogra said the government has assured the court of maintaining law and order situation in the state.
