New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected two pleas by the accused in the Kathua gang rape and murder case, with one seeking a fresh investigation alleging “motivated” probe by the state police and the other demanding that the probe be transferred to an independent agency like the CBI.
A bench comprising Justices U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud said there was “no reason to interfere” in the matter and the accused could raise these issues during the ongoing trial before the lower court at Pathankot in Punjab.
While one of the accused had sought “de-novo (fresh) investigation” in the matter claiming that probe conducted by the state police’s Crime Branch was “motivated”, the two other accused had moved the apex court seeking a direction that the probe be transferred to an independent agency.
“According to us, this matter does not require de-novo investigation. Whatever are the infirmities, you can try to take advantage of them in the trial,” the bench said. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the two accused Vishal Jangotra and his father Sanji Ram, told the bench that there were “two versions” in the charge sheet against them.
However, the bench said, “Your prayer is for transfer of investigation. We are declining that prayer”.
The victim, an eight-year-old girl from a minority nomadic community, had disappeared from near her home in a village close to Kathua in the Jammu region on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later.
The state police’s Crime Branch had earlier filed the main charge sheet against seven persons and a separate charge sheet against a juvenile in a court in Kathua district. The charge sheet has revealed chilling details about how the girl was allegedly kidnapped, drugged and raped inside a place of worship before being killed. (PTI)
