KOTKHAI CASE: CBI SEEKS MORE PROBE TIME

SHIMLA: A fortnight after Himachal Pradesh high court (HC) directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the sensational gangrape and murder of a 16-year-old girl, the premier investigating agency sought more time to unravel the crime on Wednesday. The incident sparked off state-wide protests and political blame game..

SHIMLA: A fortnight after Himachal Pradesh high court (HC) directed the CB I to probe the gangrape and murder of a 16- year-old girl, the agency sought more time to unravel thecrime on Wednesday. The incident sparked off state-wide protests.

After the custodial death of Nepalese national S ur a j—one of the six accused — in police lock upon July 19, the H Chad ordered a CBI probe.

An angry mob had set a blaze a police station in Kotkhai after Suraj’s death.

Now, the CBI has demanded three months to investigate the matter but the division bench comprising chief justice Sanjay Karol and justice Sandeep Sharma directed the agency to file additional status report on August 17.

After botched up investigations leading to public out cry, the state government filed a petition in the HC on July 16, seeking CBI inquiry. CM Vi rb had ra Singh had also written to PM Narendra Modi to direct a CBI into the case.

CB I counsel lo rAnshul Bans al said in court, “We have filed the status report. We request the court that keeping in view the sensitivity of the case, the report presented in sealed cover should not be opened. The court was also apprised about formation of a SIT.”

The CB I justified its demand of more time for investigation saying, “At the stage in which the state government and the police handed over the investigation to us, it is bound to take time.”

The agency will file additional status report on August 17.

Meanwhile, its teams have camped in Kotkhai. C BI had filed two FIR sand took over the investigation son July 22.

The CB I team is headed by I GP rank officer Ne e na Singh. Others include DIG Jasbir Singh, SP SS Gurung, ASP RK Kalia and DSP Seema Pahuja.