The Gujarat high court on Thursday reconstituted the special investigation team (SIT) looking into the killing of Mumbra girl Ishrat Jahan by replacing the current chairman with a Maharashtra-cadre IPS officer.
Satyapal Singh, a 1980 batch officer, has been appointed in place of Karnail Singh, who belongs to the union territory cadre and was relieved of his responsibilities on his transfer from Delhi to Mizoram.
On April 21, a division bench of Justice Jayant Patel and Justice Abhilasha Kumari had directed the central government to suggest names to replace Karnail Singh. The other two members of the SIT are Gujarat cadre IPS officials Mohan Jha and Satish Varma.
On Thursday, the bench also rejected the Gujarat government’s plea for handing over the probe to the state-appointed special task force (STF) owing to differences among the SIT members regarding the investigation.
On January 28, Varma filed an affidavit stating the encounter in which Ishrat and three others were killed was a fake one. He also accused the other two members of not allowing the probe to be carried out in an unbiased manner.
The court held Verma and Jha would do the investigation while Satyapal Singh would supervise the probe. The court has also allowed Jha to investigate the case. Previously he was asked to remain confined to the administrative work of the SIT while Verma was entrusted with the task of investigation.
{{/usCountry}}The court held Verma and Jha would do the investigation while Satyapal Singh would supervise the probe. The court has also allowed Jha to investigate the case. Previously he was asked to remain confined to the administrative work of the SIT while Verma was entrusted with the task of investigation.
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