New Delhi, July 31
Taking cognisance of a letter written to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by the Unnao rape survivor and her family members, the Supreme Court on Wednesday decided to hear the matter on Thursday.
A Bench headed by CJI Gogoi also asked the Supreme Court Secretary General to explain why the July 12 letter written by the rape survivor and her family members was not brought to his knowledge till Tuesday.
The letter, written in Hindi, had accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar's relatives of threatening the victim’s family with dire consequences if they did not agree to settle the rape case with Sengar, who has since been suspended by the BJP from the party.
“Unfortunately, I was informed about the letter only yesterday and I am yet to see it... Newspapers have reported as if no action was taken... We will try to do something in this highly volatile situation,” the CJI said, directing that the case be listed for hearing on Thursday. Senior advocate V Giri, who is assisting the SC in a suo motu case on sexual offences against children, mentioned the matter seeking listing of the Unnao case as the victim was a minor at the time of the incident.
The rape case hit national headlines after the victim attempted self-immolation outside CM Yogi Adityanath’s residence. She was allegedly raped by the suspended BJP MLA at his residence in Unnao two years ago when she was a minor. Sengar, a four-time BJP MLA from Bangermau, was arrested in April 2018.
Giri requested the Bench to direct the UP counsel to appear before it on Thursday with the medical report of the rape survivor. The family of rape survivor, who is struggling for life after being hit by a truck, had written to CJI Ranjan Gogoi as they apprehended threat to their lives from the accused. The letter narrated how on July 7-8 some people allegedly associated with accused MLA Sengar threatened her family with dire consequences.
Besides the CJI, the letter was also addressed to the Allahabad High Court and several authorities of the UP Government. — TNS
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2Kam3kw
via Today’s News Headlines
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