Unnao Rape Survivor’s Letter to be Taken up by Supreme Court Tomorrow, CJI Ranjan Gogoi Questions Registry Over Delay
The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo moto cognisance of a letter written by the Unnao rape survivor alleging threats from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldip Singh Sengar's men.
New Delhi, July 31: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo moto cognisance of a letter written by the Unnao rape survivor alleging threats from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Kuldip Singh Sengar's men. The apex court will hear the case on tomorrow. During the hearing, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi also clarified that he came across the letter, dated July 14, yesterday.
Taking cognizance of the letter written by the Unnao rape survivor and her family, the Supreme Court summoned for the medical report of the victim. The top court also asked the Secretary General of the court to explain the reason for the delay in placing the letter before the Chief Justice, if it was indeed received on July 17. Justice Gogoi said media reports created an impression as if he didn't act. In a First, CJI Ranjan Gogoi Allows CBI to Probe High Court Judge Justice SN Shukla in Corruption Case.
"The letter has not been placed before me and newspapers flashed that CJI did not act," Justice Gogoi said. The Supreme Court Registry received the letter on July 17. The Chief Justice 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. Unnao Rape Survivor Accident: Truck Involved in Mishap Owned by Brother of Samajwadi Party Leader Nandu Pal.
In the letter to the CJI, the young rape victim, her mother, sister, uncle and aunt alleged that the henchmen of the accused, BJP legislator 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 lawyer Mahendra Singh and two aunts when a truck being driven on the wrong side hit them. While the rape victim and her lawyer are on life support, her two aunts in the car, including one who was a witness to the crime, died in the accident. (With agency inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 31, 2019 01:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).