The Orissa High Court on Wednesday asked the State Government to submit a progress report on the probe into the Bhubaneswar minor girl gang-rape case.
During a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in connection with the case, a Division Bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice BR Sarangi directed the Government to submit the progress report on November 9, the next date for hearing. The court also asked the Government to provide security to the victim’s family.
Notably, the Crime Branch took charge of the minor gang-rape case on October 6. Acting as per the High Court’s directive, the Crime Branch SP was appointed as the investigating officer of the case. An Additional SP, three women Inspectors and an Inspector from the Cyber Cell have been assisting in the probe.
In its affidavit in the HC, the Crime Branch has stated that even though the incident occurred in April, a complaint was lodged on August 30. Due to the gap of around four months, the investigating agency is facing difficulties in getting the biological evidence in the case. A polygraph test of the accused has been carried out at the SFSL in Bhubaneswar and the report is awaited, the affidavit added.