The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has ordered a probe into allegations of threats issued to the family members of the 19-year-old Hathras woman who was gang-rapes and murdered.
A division bench of justices Rajan Roy and Jaspreet Singh issued the order on Friday, while observing an affidavit submitted by the victim’s family, which alleged that her counsel and family were issued threats when the trial proceedings were ongoing before the Special Court at Hathras, on March 5, 2021.
“We direct the district judge, Hathras, to inquire as to whether any such incident as has been alleged in the affidavit dated March 18, 2021, occurred or not, on March 5, 2021 and send his report in this regard to this court in a sealed cover,” said the court.
“He (district judge) shall also send a report of the learned presiding officer, special court, SC/ST, who is trying Sessions Trial No. 583 of 2020, as to the incidents which may have taken place in his presence in the courtroom or outside.” The HC also ordered inspector general, CRPF, central sector, Lucknow, to submit a report on the incident within 15 days. The case will now be heard on April 7.