CBI Takes Over Probe from UP Police in Hathras Case

Facts of the Case 

A 19-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by four men in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district in September. According to Hathras Superintendent of Police Vikrant Vir, the girl had gone to the fields with her mother on September 14 and went missing soon. She was later found brutally injured, with her tongue having a serious cut as she bit it while the accused attempted to strangulate her, according to the officer. The victim was admitted to the AMU's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in Aligarh. 

On September 29, the victim died in the hospital. The Hathras SP said they initially came to know that Sandip (20) had tried to kill her, following which he was arrested.  

Later, in her statement to the magistrate, the victim said that not only Sandip but Ramu, Lavkush and Ravi had also raped her. When she resisted their attempts, they tried to strangulate her, leading to the cut in the tongue.  

Four accused arrested 

According to the Hathras SP, the four accused who have been arrested and will face additional charges under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.  

Requests for a CBI Probe  

A petition was filed in the Supreme Court on September 30 seeking directions for transferring the case to the CBI or a Special Investigation Team. 

It is pertinent to mention that the UP police faced severe backlash over its handling of the sensitive case. The problems for UP police accentuated after they carried out the victim's cremation in a hurried manner without her family's presence. The UP government took note of the incidents pertaining to the case and recommended for a CBI investigation into the matter.

CBI will probe into the allegations of forceful cremation on UP police and also investigate any negligence on the part of the police for not taking cognizance of the rape case in writing on September 14.

Allahabad HC took suo moto cognizance of the incident

Considering the gravity of the situation the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident on October 1, and summoned the state functionaries to put forth their version of the case.