The Uttar Pradesh Police has informed the Supreme Court that Vikas Dubey had never surrendered, but was nabbed after a tip-off from the Madhya Pradesh Police. It was stated that the encounter took place after Dubey opened fire at one of its police officials in an attempt to flee.
The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had also hinted at setting up a committee to look into the matter. The UP Police, through its standing counsel Advocate Garima Prashad, has submitted that the state authorities have strictly worked in accordance with the law and guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in PUCL v. Union of India in 2014. It was further averred that the authorities had also intimated the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) within 24 hours of the incident, “which clearly shows a lack of malafide”.
The police has categorically stated that Vikas Dubey did not surrender. On July 9, Dubey was identified by the Mahakal temple authorities in Ujjain. After police verified his identity, Vikas Dubey was taken to the police station, reads the affidavit.
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The state police has also attempted to debunk the theory of Dubey being found to be travelling in two different cars. Police have submitted that Dubey had travelled from Ujjain to Guna in one vehicle and after Guna, he was taken by the investigating officer in a SUV. He was also being transferred from vehicle to vehicle to ensure security and alertness.
Rebutting further points made y the petitioners, UP Police states that no media vehicles were stopped. It in fact claims that “Aaj Tak and Republic TV had immediately reached the accident site and also reported the rain.”
The UP Police has further claimed that bullet wounds were only on his back as he was facing the police from front and firing rounds.
“Police had fired six bullets compared to the reported four bullets from which only three hit the accused and the rest had missed the target,” reads the reply.
The current SIT formed by the Yogi Adityanath government is headed by UP Additional Chief Secretary, Sanjay Bhoosreddy. Other members of the SIT are Hari Ram Sharma and J Ravinder Gaur, both IPS officers.
The SIT has been directed to submit a report to the state government before July 31.
