Supreme Court to take up Unnao rape survivor's letter today
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered an inquiry to ascertain if negligence by officials in the Registry led to delay in the letter written by the Unnao rape survivour's family from reaching the Chief Justice.
The inquiry will be conducted by the court's Secretary General, under the supervision of a sitting judge nominated by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police personnel tasked with protecting the rape survivour were suspended on Thursday on charges of dereliction of duty. They were in the personal security of the rape survivor but did not accompany her to Rae Bareli on the day the survivor met with an accident.
The young woman, who has accused BJP lawmaker Kuldeep Sengar of raping her at his residence in 2017 when she was a minor, her family and her lawyer were hit by a truck in Raebareli on Sunday. Her two aunts were killed and she and the advocate have been critically injured.
Ajendra Awasthi, another advocate for the woman, said he has been provided with adequate security by the district administration on his request.
Also, UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh confirmed that the party's central leadership has expelled lawmaker Kuldeep Sengar. His statement earlier in the day that Sengar was suspended and not sacked from the party had created confusion over the MLA's fate.
Here are the HIGHLIGHTS of the day:
09:30 pm: BJP expels MLA Sengar, confirms BJP after confusion
The Bharatiya Janata Party has confirmed that it had expelled its jailed Uttar Pradesh lawmaker Kuldeep Sengar, accused of raping a minor girl from Unnao two years ago and killing two members of her family, from the party.
UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh said in Lucknow that the party's central leadership has expelled him. His statement earlier in the day that Sengar was suspended and not sacked from the party had created confusion over the MLA's fate.
08:00 pm: Three police guards of rape survivour suspended
Three Uttar Pradesh Police personnel tasked with protecting the rape survivour were suspended on Thursday on charges of dereliction of duty.
Inspector General of Police, Law and Order, Pravin Kumar told reporters here that the suspended police personnel are Sudesh Kumar, and women constables Sunita Devi and Ruby Patel. All three were in the personal security of the rape survivor but did not accompany her to Rae Bareli on the day the survivor met with an accident.
04:50 pm: Unnao rape survivour's second aunt cremated
The body of the Unnao rape survivour's aunt, who was killed in an accident in Rae Bareli district, was consigned to flames in her village, about 70 kilometres from here on Thursday.
Her mortal remains were brought to the village in the Subeha area here from Lucknow amid tight security.
The last rites were performed by her son in the presence of her two daughters. The woman was a widow.
04:10 pm: Lawyer's brother shows photos to prove charges
Devendra Singh, brother of lawyer Mahendra Singh who was critically injured in a car crash in Raebareli along with the Unnao rape survivour, has said that he has photographic evidence of accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar's men stalking his house and intimidating the family.
Showing the photographs, Devendra Singh said that Manoj Sengar (the MLA's bother) and Hari Pal Singh, an accused in the car crash conspiracy, were seen outside his house.
"They would send messages asking my brother to back off from the case. We sent the letters with these photographic evidences to the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court and the UP Director General of Police (DGP) on July 12 but did not get any response," he said.
04:00 pm: Supreme Court will probe delay in replying to family
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered an inquiry to ascertain if negligence by officials in the Registry led to delay in the letter written by the Unnao rape survivour's family from reaching the Chief Justice.
The inquiry will be conducted by the court's Secretary General, under the supervision of a sitting judge nominated by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
03:24 pm: Supreme Court orders inquiry to be conducted by Secretary General within 7 days, under supervision of sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI, to ascertain whether there was any lapse/negligence by registry officials in delay in processing letter of Unnao rape victim’s mother to CJI.
03:20 pm: Chief Justice of India says,'Probe to be completed within 7 days in the accident case, however, as an exception, CBI can take another week, but in no circumstance shall the probe extend beyond a fortnight.'
02:56 pm: READ | Rise and fall of Unnao rape case accused Kuldeep Sengar
02:20 pm: On the question of interim compensation to rape survivor, CJI said, 'We have also considered the question of interim compensation to the victim, as an interim measure we direct the UP government to pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the victim. We also directed security and protection to the victim, her lawyer, mother of the victim, the four siblings of the victim, her uncle, and immediate family members in the village in Unnao.'
02:17 pm: The designated judge in Delhi will commence the trial on day-to-day basis and complete the trial within 45 days
02:17 pm: Supreme Court transfers trial of all the cases related to Unnao rape incident from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.
02:14 pm: Supreme Court says,'taking into account the ground stated in transfer petition, and letter to the CJI, we order the transfer of all the cases from the CBI court in UP to Delhi.'
01:29 pm: King George Medical University hospital, Lucknow said on Unnao rape survivor and her lawyer's condition is critical. Both are on ventilator. But their condition is stable like yesterday. Their treatment is being done by team of experts at KGMU,free of cost.
12:40 pm: CJI Ranjan Gogoi says, "We will come back at 2 PM and pass an order on transfer of cases on all the five cases and medical attention to the victim and her lawyer. Doctors are the best judges, they can decide whether she and her lawyer can be airlifted to Delhi."
12:45 pm: Chief Justice asks, 'What is the condition of the victim? Solicitor General says, 'She is on ventilator' CJI asks 'Is she in the condition to move? We don’t want to move the victim, she can be airlifted. We can ask AIIMS.'
12:40 pm: Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi asks Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, 'How much time do you need (for investigating the accident of Unnao rape survivor & others)?' Solicitor General says, 'A month'. CJI replies 'A month? No, investigate in 7 days.'
12:37 pm: Supreme Court says all five cases relating to Unnao rape case, including the truck accident, will be transferred to Delhi. CBI seeks 30 days to complete truck accident. SC says it must be completed in a week.
12:35 pm: MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar has been expelled from BJP.
12:30 pm: Three police personnel - including two women cops, appointed for the security of Unnao rape survivor, have been suspended.
11:23 am: READ | Unnao rape case: Supreme Court transfers case out of Unnao, demands CBI officer's presence by 12 noon
11:09 am: Solicitor General T Mehta informed the CJI that he spoke with CBI director Officers investigating the case are in Lucknow and it wouldn’t be possible for them to reach Delhi by 12 PM. He asked if it could be taken up tomorrow, CJI refuses to adjourn matter for tomorrow.
11:07 am: In a letter dated 15th July, Mahendra Singh, lawyer of Unnao rape survivor, wrote to Unnao District Magistrate (DM) to urgently grant him a weapon license. Letter states, "I have apprehension that I could be murdered in future."
10:52 am: Chief Justice of India also asked Solicitor General to interact with Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, regarding the rape and road accident. Supreme Court said that if necessary, chamber hearing may take place.
10:40 am: SC seeks presence of the responsible CBI officer till 12 noon today in Court, to inform it about progress in the case. CJI Ranjan Gogoi also seeks full details of investigation about the status in the case. SC also says it is likely to transfer trials in the case.
10:35 am: The Supreme Court will transfer all Unnao cases out of Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Justice had observed that the reports had emerged as if nothing was done on the letter received in the Supreme Court Registry on July 17.
Gogoi said the court will try to do something constructive "amid this highly destructive environment".
The Chief Justice on Wednesday had asked the court registry to file a reply within a week, as to why there was a delay in placing before him the July 12 letter written by the rape victim and her family seeking security.
In the letter to the CJI, the young rape victim, her mother, sister, uncle and aunt alleged that the henchmen of the accused, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, were threatening to implicate them in false cases if they did not settle the case.
The letter also contained a video recording of the criminal intimidation and the photographs of the accused.
On Sunday, the rape victim, who had accused Sengar of raping her in 2017, was travelling to Rae Bareli with her mother, lawyer Mahendra Singh and aunt when a truck being driven on the wrong side hit them.
While the rape victim and her lawyer are on life support, two of her relatives died in the accident.
Also Read | Unnao rape survivour, her lawyer stable: KGMU doctors
Video: Supreme Court takes note of Unnao rape survivor’s letter, set to hear case today
