Respond to plea for CBI probe into killing of 3 Dalits: SC to MP

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Madhya Pradesh Government to respond to a petition seeking a CBI probe into the alleged murders of three members of a Dalit family in the state. A Bench led by Justice JK Maheshwari…

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Madhya Pradesh Government to respond to a petition seeking a CBI probe into the alleged murders of three members of a Dalit family in the state.

A Bench led by Justice JK Maheshwari also issued notice to the CBI on the petition filed by a woman, who alleged her son, daughter and brother-in-law were killed. She accused a former home minister of the state, who is currently an MLA, of influencing and threatening witnesses in the case.

“One after the other, three members of a family were killed with the police extending full assistance to the accused persons only because the former state home minister and his group was behind the killings. Resultantly, no prosecution of the accused is possible in the state,” alleged the petitioner, represented by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves.

The petitioner alleged an FIR was lodged in January 2019 in Sagar district on a complaint by her daughter, who was 15. She alleged she was beaten up and molested by some persons in her village. The plea claimed none of the sections regarding molestation or under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act were invoked.

It alleged the complainant’s brother was killed by the same group of persons who molested her and an FIR was lodged in this regard in August, 2023.

The plea said in May last year, the complainant’s uncle, who was one of the eyewitnesses to the killing, was murdered by the persons belonging to the same group and a separate FIR was lodged in this regard.

It alleged when she was coming back with the mortal remains of her uncle on May 26, 2024, she was killed by the police while travelling in the ambulance.

The plea said the facts and circumstances surrounding the case make it suitable for a CBI investigation consisting of officers from outside of Madhya Pradesh. It has sought a direction to the CBI to constitute a team of officers from outside Madhya Pradesh to take over the investigation and prosecution of those involved in these murders and the criminal intimidation of the entire family.

The plea also sought transfer of the investigation and prosecution in respect of these FIRs from Madhya Pradesh to Delhi so the entire proceedings could be conducted in an independent and fair manner.

Courtesy : The Tribune

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