CBI urges HC to give more time for probe

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

After the custodial death of Nepalese national Suraj — one of the six accused — in police lock up on July 19, the HC had ordered a CBI probe.

An angry mob had set ablaze 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 outcry, the state government filed a petition in the HC on July 16, seeking CBI inquiry.

CM Virbhadra Singh had also written to PM Narendra Modi to direct a CBI into the case.

CBI counsellor Anshul Bansal 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 CBI 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. CBI had filed two FIRs and took over the investigations on July 22.

The CBI team is headed by IGP rank officer Neena Singh. Others include DIG Jasbir Singh, SP SS Gurung, ASP RK Kalia and DSP Seema Pahuja.