Since the State Crime Branch police did not examine a single political leader during the investigation of sensational Pipili gang rape and murder incident of 2012, the Justice PK Mohanty Commission of Inquiry on Friday issued a notice to the State government to show cause as to why the incumbent ADG of Crime Branch police shall not appear before the Commission for cross examination.
Taking up a fresh application filed by counsel of victim’s family Nishikant Mishra, the commission issued the notice to the State government seeking a reply to it before the next date of hearing of the matter scheduled on November 1.It may be mentioned that during a cross-examination in October last year, the investigating officer (IO) DSP Ramesh Chandra Sethy had told the Commission that no political leader was examined during the investigation of the case.
Questioning whether the political leaders are above the law of the land or do they enjoy immunity from coming under the purview of criminal investigation, Mishra in his application wanted to bring the crime branch police into the purview of the probe panel.Mishra also wanted to know as to why not a single political leader was examined before the crime branch police submitted its charge sheet when a heavyweight cabinet minister put in his papers in the wake of the incident.
“The police did not bring the political leaders into the purview of investigation despite the FIR clearly said that due to political pressure, the police and doctors neglected the rape victim and subsequently she died,” Mishra alleged.