SC stops CBI from recording statements of two Manipur women victims at noon
The Hindu
The Supreme Court on August 1 stopped the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from “recording the statements” of the two women victims of the Thoubal sexual violence incident in Manipur at noon, just two hours before a scheduled Supreme Court hearing in the case.
The Supreme Court on August 1 stopped the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from “recording the statements” of the two women victims of the Thoubal sexual violence incident in Manipur at noon, just two hours before a scheduled Supreme Court hearing in the case.
The women had made an urgent mentioning before Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud that the CBI intended to record their statement at noon on August 1.
The Chief Justice immediately told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ask the CBI officials to pause, as the court was scheduled to hear the case at 2 p.m. on August 1.
The fact that the CBI was moving in with their investigation, starting with the taking down of the statements of the women at noon, was brought to the attention of the Chief Justice by advocate Nizam Pasha who is assisting senior advocate Kapil Sibal in representing the women in the Supreme Court.
The CBI has taken over the Thoubal case, but the woman have objected to the move made by the Centre with the consent of the Manipur government.
The top court is considering appointing its own special investigation team.
“The CBI is going to record their statements of the two women at noon,” Mr. Pasha informed the court.
While residents are worried over deaths due to diarrhoea in Vijayawada, officials still grapple to find the root cause. Contaminated drinking water supplied by VMC officials is the reason, insist people in the affected areas, but officials insist that efforts are on to identify the disease and that those with symptoms other than diarrhoea too are visiting the health camps.