The CBI on Thursday registered a first information report (FIR) in Badaun rapes-and-killings case and is sending a team of 20 officials to conduct the probe in Uttar Pradesh, CBI chief Ranjit Sinha said. Two cousin sisters, aged 14 and 15 years, were allegedly gang-raped and were later found hanging from a tree on May 27 in Katra Sadatganj village of Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district, causing a national uproar.
While attending an investiture ceremony of the 17th batch of 32 sub-inspector cadets of the agency at its academy in Ghaziabad, CBI Director Ranjit Sinha told reporters: “We have received a notification from the Central Government and registered a case in Badaun rape and murder case.”
Out of the 32 cadets, 21 are directly recruited through SSC and 11 through a departmental examination. The training was imparted under visionary trainers during which they were trained in investigation skill in anti-graft cases and different types of conventional drug-related offences, human trafficking, wildlife crimes, cyber crime, mobile forensics, bank and security frauds and other economic offences. They had also been trained in unarmed combat, gender sensitisation and human rights as well.
The director on this occasion reminded the cadets that “when in dilemma over taking decision, remember that the law is our only friend, justice to the cause our only goal and truth the only road to achieve it. So the CBI officers must never by swayed or deflected from the correct and proper course of action.”
The CBI Director also revealed he had applied for the post of Director General of Interpol for which he had sought permission from the Government. The Government response, he said, was in the affirmative. He is expected to receive an interview call. He also said that the special crime branch team, including forensic experts, will be led by DIG Madhukar Tiwari. A CBI official said that the team will “leave for Uttar Pradesh on Friday”.
The UP Government has been requested to provide logistical support to the visiting team. An official said that CBI sleuths are part of the Special Crime Branch of the agency. The agency will also seek the custody of the accused who have been arrested in connection with the case by Uttar Pradesh Police.
Seven people have been booked by the State Police. Five of the seven accused — two constables Chhatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav and three brothers — have been arrested. The three arrested brothers are Pappu, Awadhesh and Urvesh Yadav. In a twist to the case, Uttar Pradesh Director-General of Police Al Banerjee earlier claimed that rape of one of the victims was not confirmed, suggesting that property could be one of the motives behind the crime.