After Justice J.K. Maheshwari's removal, the case will now be handed over to a new bench. The petitioner side demands that the entire matter be investigated independently by the CBI or SIT.
Bhopal. In the much-discussed Barodia Nonagir Dalit murder case related to Khurai assembly constituency of Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, senior Supreme Court judge Justice J.K. Maheshwari has recused himself from hearing. As soon as the hearing started last Friday, Justice Maheshwari clearly said, “I do not want to hear this case. It should be handed over to some other bench.”
This decision has come at a time when the bench of Justice Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi was continuously hearing this sensitive case since January 2024. Senior advocate Meenesh Dubey, on behalf of the petitioner, said, “This decision is shocking. They were hearing this case from the beginning. If they have recused themselves, there must be some serious reason behind it!”
Know what is the Barodia-Nonagir Dalit murder case?
This case starts in January 2019 from Barodia-Nonagir village of Khurai Dehat police station area of Sagar district, when Anjana Ahirwar, daughter of a Dalit family of the village, was allegedly beaten up and molested by some goons. The family alleges that the police did not add the section of molestation in the FIR, which weakened the process of justice. Since then, one by one, two members of this Dalit family were murdered and one suspicious death occurred.
– 23 January 2019 Raghuveer Ahirwar’s son Vishnu was beaten up in the market.
– 26 January 2019: Incident of beating and molestation of Anjana. Case registered under SC-ST Act.
– 31 March 2021: Nitin alias Lalu arrested by police in a false case, family claims.
– 24 August 2023: Nitin beaten to death by mob. Mother and elder daughter-in-law attacked, house vandalized.
– 25 May 2024: Main witness Rajendra Ahirwar murdered with axe and sticks.
– 26 May 2024: Anjana, who was returning with Rajendra’s body, died under suspicious circumstances after falling from a moving ambulance.
What are the allegations in the petition?
Anjana’s mother and sister-in-law have filed a petition in the Supreme Court in which they have directly accused Khurai BJP MLA and former Home Minister Bhupendra Singh of being involved in the murder conspiracy.
The petition states that after Nitin’s murder, Anjana was called to the former minister’s house. She was threatened not to testify. A settlement of Rs 2 crore was offered which Anjana rejected. Anjana had given a written complaint to the police officers on 26 February 2024. The former minister pressured the family to give specified statements to the media.
PUCL report also attached with the petition
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) report released in July 2024 said that the entire incident is a well-planned caste violence, in which the Dalit family was repeatedly targeted and the justice process was affected by killing eyewitnesses.
After Justice J.K. Maheshwari’s removal, the case will now be assigned to a new bench. The petitioner side demands that the entire case be investigated independently by the CBI or SIT. The influence of high profile political personalities should be stopped and witnesses and the victim’s family should be given protection.
Ankit Pachauri
Courtesy : Hindi News