Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to present witnesses and evidence in the court on the closure report in the much publicised death of two teenaged cousins in Katra village Badaun in May last year.
Additional District Judge (POSCO Act) in Badaun, Anil Kumar has now fixed February 2 as the next date of hearing in the case. The victims’ family had objected on the closure report and their lawyer Kokab Hasan Naqvi said it seems that the CBI has no evidences to support its closure report.
One of the deceased girl’s father Sohanlal alleged that CBI’s attitude was suspicious and could not reply how the girl would climb a big tree to commit suicide. The CBI has filed a closure report in the case claiming that the girls had committed suicide. The agency filed the closure report of 34 page without giving any evidence on December 12. On January 6, the court had directed the CBI to provide evidence and other relevant documents in the court on Friday but they failed to do so.
The agency filed its report saying there was no forensic or circumstantial evidence suggesting rape and murder as alleged in the FIR registered by Uttar Pradesh Police after the girls’ bodies were found hanging from a tree in May. The CBI said the two girls had committed suicide fearing retribution as the elder girl’s affair with a local boy from a different caste had come to light. The final report mentions questionable actions of the father of the girls, an uncle and main witness Nazru, also a distant relative, leaving it to the court to take further action, sources said.
The bodies of the two cousins, both around 14 years, were found hanging in an orchard on May 28 last. The girls’ families had alleged that they were kidnapped and murdered by five youths from the village. The incident sparked an outcry in the country and abroad with questions being raised over the law and order situation. Even United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon had expressed concern. The CBI said there was no evidence of rape or murder as there was no sign of struggle on their clothes and bodies.
The agency said forensic analysis also revealed that there was no male DNA or sperm on their bodies. The agency closed the investigation after dropping charges against five persons - Pappu, Awadhesh and Urvesh Yadav (brothers) and constables Chhatrapal Yadav and Sarvesh Yadav —named as prime accused by the State police for the alleged rape and murder of the girls. Both policemen were even terminated by the Government.