Set up temporary court at AIIMS for Unnao victim’s statement: SC

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 6

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Delhi High Court to set up a temporary court at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here for recording the statement of the Unnao rape survivor, who sustained serious injuries in an accident that claimed lives of two of his family members.

A Bench, headed by Justice Deepak Gupta, also gave two more weeks to the CBI probe to complete the probe into the case after the agency said the investigation could not be completed as the statement of the victim was yet to be recorded.

The rape survivor was shifted to AIIMS from a hospital in Lucknow where she was being treated along with her lawyer after they met with an accident in July.

The Unnao case hit national headlines again after the car carrying the 19-year-old rape survivor, her family and lawyer was hit by a speeding truck in Rae Bareli on July 28, killing the two of her family members.

She and the advocate were critically injured in the incident and they are struggling for their lives in King George Hospital in Lucknow.  Earlier, her father had died in judicial custody after being arrested in a case under the Arms Act.

Shocked at the sequence of events in the Unnao rape case allegedly involving suspended BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, the Supreme Court had on August 1 transferred all criminal cases connected with the rape incident from a court in Uttar Pradesh to a Special CBI Court in Delhi.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had ordered the UP Government to pay Rs 25 lakh as an interim compensation to the victim.The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL seeking to restrain lawmakers from practising legal profession till they demit office.

“Why should MPs be prohibited from practice ? You don’t want MPs to practice in the court as they are public servant....,” said a Bench.

Special judge to hold court 

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday approved recording of statement of the Unnao rape survivor at the trauma centre of AIIMS by Special Judge Dharmesh Sharma, who is conducting trial of the case. A notification to this effect was issued by the High Court late in the evening. It said Chief Justice DN Patel and HC judges ordered that “Special Judge Dharmesh Sharma shall hold court for recording the testimony of the victim in the premises/building of trauma centre of AIIMS in addition to the Tiz Hazari District Court Complex during trial of the cases”. PTI