SC replaces Calcatta HC in CBI probe, forms SIT: ‘Routinely giving probes to the investigating agency burdens it and undermines police morale’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday constituted a three-member special investigation team to probe allegations of torture in custody of two women arrested for participating in a protest against the rape-murder incident at RG Kar Hospital and for allegedly threatening the minor daughter of an MP with rape.
On a plea by the West Bengal government challenging the transfer of investigation into the alleged jail torture incident to the CBI, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan modified the HC order and constituted the SIT, comprising out of three West Bengal IPS officers. executives who come from other states, and said that routine entrustment of investigations to the CBI was not only a burden on the agency but also had a demoralizing impact on the state police.
“Routinely entrusting investigations to the CBI not only creates an unmanageable burden on the premier investigating agency but also has a far-reaching demoralizing impact on the morale of the state police,” the court said.
While one woman was arrested for threatening the MP’s minor daughter with rape, the other was accused of applauding and supporting the alleged threatening speech.
The main suspect was held in custody for over a month. On their petition, alleging torture under imprisonment, a single-judge bench of Calcutta HC had ordered a CBI probe into the incident, which was upheld by a division bench.
The members of the SIT are Akash Magharia, DIG Presidency Range, Howrah (Rural) SP Swati Bhangalia and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, Howrah) Sujata Kumari Veenapani.
The bench asked the SIT to immediately take over the investigation from the West Bengal Policeand directed the state police to hand over all case documents and investigation data to the SIT during the day. “SIT will resume investigation without delay,” it ordered.
The Justice Kant-led bench requested the Chief Justice of the Calcutta HC to constitute a bench, before which the SIT would file an investigation status report every week and seek necessary directions to continue the investigations entrusted by the SC.
Defending the two women, senior advocate Narender Hooda said the HC was right in ordering the CBI probe as the West Bengal Police Chief and the Home Minister had termed the incident as a fictitious allegation. “One of the women has been charged under the POCSO Act for clapping in support of the other woman’s alleged claim. This shows the mentality of the state police to harass anyone who criticizes the state’s handling of the RG Kar incident,” he said. said.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the state, did not make a statement as he understood that the SC would not entrust the investigation into the case to the CBI.