LG okays appeal against acquittal of 3 men
NEW DELHI: Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his approval for a review petition against the Supreme Court decision to acquit three men sentenced to death for the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman, officials aware of the development said on Monday.
On February 9, 2012, the woman, who worked with a private company in Gurugram’s Cyber City, had alighted from a bus at Delhi’s Qutub Vihar, a mere 10-minute walk away from her house at Chhawla Camp, when she was abducted. Days later, her body was found in a field at Rodhai village in Haryana’s Rewari district, with multiple injuries and burn marks.
Three alleged accused – Rahul, Ravi and Vinod – were convicted and the awarded the death sentence by a city court on February 19, 2014, a judgment which was upheld by the high court on August 26 the same year.
However, on November 8, the Supreme Court acquitted the three, citing glaring lapses in the investigation and trial of the case, leading to serious doubts in the minds of the top court judges.
A review petition against the Supreme Court acquittal was initiated by the Delhi Police, which forwarded the application to the Delhi chief secretary, who marked it to the home department.
After consultation with the law department, the home department sent the application to the LG through the chief secretary.
The woman’s father welcomed move to file a review petition, telling news agency PTI, “I will fight till my last breath to get justice.”
A Delhi Police officer confirmed that the request originated from the force after additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati said the judgement was fit for review.
“Delhi LG has approved filing of a review petition in the Supreme Court against its decision of acquitting the three accused earlier convicted and awarded death sentence by the trial court and high court for the gruesome rape and murder,” an official said.
“The LG has also approved the appointment of solicitor general Tushar Mehta and ASG Bhati to represent the Delhi government in the case before the Supreme Court,” the official added.
While upholding the trial court sentence against the three alleged accused, the high court on August 26, 2014 had noted, the brutal manner in which the woman’s body was mutilated before and after the woman was kidnapped and raped, referring to the accused as “trained blood hounds picking out a scent”.