HC summons CBI chief over slow probe pace

The probe agency on Wednesday sought three months more time to complete the investigation process

SHIMLA: Dissatisfied with the investigation in the Kotkhai rape and murder case, the Himachal Pradesh high court on Wednesday summoned director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Alok Kumar Verma and asked him to appear in the next hearing on April 18.

CBI on Wednesday sought three months time to complete the investigation. The probe agency said it needed more time to analyse some new reports and unearth new facts.

The double bench comprising acting chief justice Sanjay Karol and justice Sandeep Sharma said CBI officials have worked on the case but probe bears no fruitful result.

“It has been more than eight months that this court entrusted the investigation to the CBI... we are only reminded of the fact that the crime relates to the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl child, which evoked great anger and pain. Are we to understand that CBI officers are not competent enough to unearth the crime of such nature within eight months?,” the court said, adding: “After all, as we understand, it is not a case of destruction of evidence. It is also not that investigation is to be conducted in a foreign land or offshore. There is also no inkling that the crime may have been committed by a foreign national.”

“Now, if the investigation is to be carried out within the state, why is it that such process cannot be hastened by deputing more persons with greater experience and expertise? Let the CBI director file a personal affidavit indicating fresh status.”

The court said heinous crime shook sentiments of people of the state and another heinous crime (custodial death of accused) shook the faith of people in the police. In July 2017, the high court bench had asked CBI to speed up the probe.

The HC had directed the state to provide assistance to the probe agency, who has been investigating Kotkhai gangrape and murder case along with the custodial death case of an accused. On December 15 last year, CBI had announced a reward of ₹10 lakh for providing credible information about the accused.

‘NATIONAL HIGHWAYS NOT SANCTIONED FOR POLITICAL GAINS’

Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday dismissed the Congress allegations that 69 national highways were sanctioned by the Centre for political gains ahead of elections. He said the Central government sanctioned an amount of ₹270 crore for preparing the detailed project reports (DPRS).

The CM was replying to a question asked by Congress legislators Mukesh Agnihotri, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Satpal Singh Raizada.

Thakur while replying also questioned the Congress for delay in the preparation of DPRS.