The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the Hathras Gang Rape case relating to the alleged gangrape and murder of a 19-year old Dalit woman but the petition is pending before the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored CBI probe.
The Court has also asked for suggestions on how the scope of the proceedings before the Allahabad High Court can be widened.
The family members of the victim have also been directed to be present before the Court so that the Court can further ascertain the facts.
The UP Police had denied occurrence of rape in the case by citing a forensic report which showed the absence of sperm samples in the victim’s body.
The police also cremated the victim of hathras gang rape in the middle of the night, allegedly ignoring the protests of her family members, following which various letter petition were written to the Supreme Court as well as the Allahabad High Court.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian haddirected the Uttar Pradesh government to file an affidavit containing details on the protection offered to witnesses, and whether the victim’s family has chose a lawyer to represent them.
The matter of hathras gang rape has been listed to be taken up on October 12.
The 19-year-old Hathras girl died at a Delhi hospital on September 29, a fortnight after she was allegedly gang raped by four youths of her own village. All the four accused have been arrested.
The UP government first formed an SIT to probe the case but after a nation-wide outcry, recommended a CBI probe. A few days later, during a hearing before the Supreme Court, it sought an SC-monitored probe into all aspects of the case. Besides gang rape and murder, it also includes alleged criminal conspiracy to spread caste conflict, instigating violence, incidents of vicious propaganda by sections of media and political interests, senior officials said.
