Kathua: Plea seeking fresh probe rejected
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday rejected two pleas by the accused in the Kathua gang rape and murder case, with one seeking a fresh investigation alleging “motivated” probe by the state police and the other demanding that the probe be transferred to an independent agency like CBI.
A bench comprising Justices U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud said there was “no reason to interfere” in the matter and the accused could raise these issues during the ongoing trial before the lower court at Pathankot =.
While one of the accused had sought “de-novo (fresh) investigation” in the matter claiming that probe conducted by the state police’s Crime Branch was “motivated”, the two other accused had moved the apex court seeking a direction that the probe be transferred to an independent agency.
“According to us, this matter does not require de-novo investigation. Whatever are the infirmities, you can try to take advantage of them in the trial,” the bench said. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the two accused Vishal Jangotra and his father Sanji Ram, told the bench that there were “two versions” in the charge sheet against them.
“The petitioners here are father and son. It is improbable that a father will call his son from Meerut, where he (son) is giving his examination, to commit such crime,” Kumar said, adding that “it is improbable in Indian context that father and son will do this”. He also argued that police officers were also arrayed as accused in the case.