"Will Consider Shifting Trial: Allahabad High Court On "Threat" To Hathras Family

In his affidavit before the Allahabad High Court, the brother of the woman alleged the incident took place during the March 5 hearing at the Hathras special court.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, which is monitoring the case of the gang-rape and death of a 20-year-old woman in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, has said it will consider shifting the trial out of the western UP district. The move comes after the woman's brother filed an affidavit before the court alleging threats and intimidation to the family and their lawyers during a hearing at the Hathras trial court earlier this month. In his affidavit before the Allahabad High Court, the brother of the woman alleged the incident took place during the March 5 hearing at the Hathras special court. A two-judge bench of the High Court has called for a report of the alleged incident and said it will consider as to whether the trial in question is required to be stayed and is to be transferred elsewhere. It also noted that the CBI also intends to file an application for "transfer of the trial from District Hathras to elsewhere, within the State." The court, in its order has described the contents of this affidavit in detail, including threats to the lead counsel for the victim's family, Seema Kushwaha.