SC grants 2 more weeks to CBI to complete probe in accident case involving Unnao rape survivor

The Supreme Court on Monday granted two more weeks to CBI to complete the probe in an accident case involving Unnao rape survivor.

New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday granted two more weeks to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete investigation into a road accident in which the Unnao rape survivor and her lawyer were critically injured and two of her aunts killed.

The apex court, which had earlier given two weeks to the CBI to complete the probe, extended the time while noting that the probe agency has done "quite extensive investigation" so far in the case.

While seeking four more weeks to complete the probe, CBI told the top court that statements of rape survivor and her lawyer have not been recorded yet and they want to analyse certain electronic evidence collected so far during the probe.

A bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay Rs 5 lakh to the lawyer towards his medical expenses and Rs 25 lakh to the rape survivor as interim compensation.

The bench, however, took exception to some public statements made by the family members of the rape survivor in the media and said it might help the accused during the trial of the case.

"If you have any grievances, feel free to tell us. We are here to help you. Some members of her family are going to the media. It may rather help the accused," the bench observed.

At the outset, senior advocate V Giri, assisting the top court as an amicus curiae in the matter, told the bench that the lawyer injured in the road accident is in a critical condition and is undergoing treatment.

The bench, after hearing Giri's submission, asked, "Who is appearing for the CBI? You (CBI) have asked for extension of time (to complete the probe) in the ground that statements of the victim and her lawyer have not been recorded yet".

Advocate Rajat Nair, appearing for CBI, said that they have filed an application in this regard.

The top court had on August 2 directed the CBI to complete the investigation in the case within seven days, adding that the agency could avail additional seven days in exceptional circumstances, but in no case, the time frame would be extended beyond a fortnight.

It had earlier ordered transfer of all the five related cases in the matter to Delhi but later modified its order putting in abeyance shifting of the accident case till the probe was completed.

The modification was done stating that due to shifting of the case, the local court was facing a technical hurdle in passing orders of remand for the accused who are being arrested in course of the probe.

The court had said the order transferring the accident case "shall remain in abeyance for the period during which the said case remains under investigation, which we have stipulated in the order dated August 1, 2019, to be completed in a maximum period of 15 days, preferably within seven days. The order dated August 1, 2019, is modified accordingly".

The woman, allegedly raped by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in 2017 when she was a minor, is battling for life after a truck rammed into the car she was travelling in with some family members and her lawyer. Two of her aunts died in the road accident.

She was airlifted from a hospital in Lucknow and brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for better care as she continued to be critical.