Postponing the hearing of the plea seeking a probe into the alleged encounter in Hyderabad to Thursday, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it is inclined to appoint a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate the incident in which four rape accused were shot dead by the Cyberabad police. The Supreme Court was hearing a PIL which alleged that the encounter was fake and sought a probe against concerned police officials.
LiveLaw reported that the apex court has asked the state government and the petitioners to propose suggestions of the name of the retired judge who will probe the incident. Chief Justice of India SA Bobde stated that the court had approached Justice P Reddy for the same, but he declined.
Four accused persons — Mohammed Areef, Jollu Shiva, Jollu Naveen and Chennakeshavulu — who were accused of raping and murdering 26-year-old veterinarian Disha (name changed) were gunned down by police last week during an alleged exchange of gunfire.
On December 6, the police killed all the four accused in Chatanpally village, close to the spot where Disha’s body was found. Police claim that they took the accused for crime reconstruction and witness collection. However, the police said that the accused dramatically snatched their pistols and attacked them, leaving no choice but to retaliate with arms.
Contesting the claims of Cyberabad commissioner VC Sajjanar, the petitioners, GS Mani and Pradeep Kumar Yadav, and advocate ML Sharma had filed separate PILs in the Supreme Court. While Mani and Pradeep demanded an independent investigation into the alleged encounter, Sharma sought a Special Investigation Team probe headed by former SC judges.
As these petitions were moved for urgent hearing, CJI SA Bobde agreed to it. The Cyberabad commissioner also left to New Delhi to appear before the court.
Meanwhile, the Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the government to preserve the bodies of the accused in Gandhi hospital till December 13, the day of the hearing. The court asked the bodies to be transported in an air-conditioned ambulance from Mahabubnagar Government Medical College.
The seven-member team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also completed its investigation. The report is yet to be made public.