Deciding to hear the pleas seeking a CBI inquiry into the sensational six-month-old Kunduli gang rape case, the Orissa High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the State Government and the premier Central investigating agency.
From a batch of pleas having a similar prayer, a Division Bench of the court headed by Chief Justice Vineet Saran picked up two petitions, one filed by the victim’s brother and the other by former lok Sabha member Kharavela Swain, for adjudication.
The Bench, also comprising Justice Dr BR Sarangi, issued notices to all the respondents, including the State DGP and the Koraput SP, to file their respective counters within three weeks and adjourned the cases for a joint hearing on May 3.
At least six petitions, including the one filed by the victim’s brother Bhagban Chhati that was transferred here from the Supreme Court in February, were listed on the day for an analogous hearing.
The matter pertains to an alleged rape of the 17-year-old dalit girl on October 10, 2017 apparently by four security personnel in the Kunduli jungle near Musaguda in Koraput district. Alleging torture and harassment by police, the girl committed suicide on January 22.
Former MP Swain, in his plea, has sought a CBI probe for ascertaining the facts and circumstances that forced the minor girl to commit suicide after nearly 100 days of her bringing the rape allegations against security personnel.
Similarly, Bhagaban in his plea has alleged that the State police completely thwarted the investigations by destroying and tampering with the medical evidences. He has also alleged that the conduct of several Government officials had driven her sister to commit suicide.