Kotkhai case: CBI granted 3 more weeks

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, September 21

The High Court today granted three weeks more to the CBI for completing the investigation into the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl from Kotkhai.

While granting time, a Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Sharma directed the CBI to file a status report with regard to the custodial death of an accused in the case on October 11.

During the course of hearing, the counsel for the CBI has also filed a status report before the court and after perusing it, the court handed it over to the Registrar General for keeping it in safe custody.

The counsel for the CBI sought time for completing the investigation on the ground that the reports of some important tests were yet to come, so in view of this, four weeks might be granted to it. On this, the court granted the CBI time and listed the matter for further hearing on October 11.

In its earlier order on July 19, the court had directed the CBI to constitute a three-member special investigation team (SIT), headed by a Superintendent of Police, to investigate the rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl from Kotkhai. Apart from this, the court had also entrusted the investigation of the custodial death of an accused in the rape and murder of the girl with it. It was on July 12 that the High Court took suo motu cognizance of the matter on the news reports published in the media. Thereafter, on July 17, the state filed an application urging the court to direct the CBI to start the investigation into the incident.