Supreme Court Orders SIT Probe
In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of India has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to scrutinize the murder case involving the driver of a Congress party leader in Madhya Pradesh. The directive came on Monday from a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, as they examined a petition filed by Rajiya Ali, the widow of the deceased.
Allegations of Political Influence
The petitioner, Rajiya Ali, raised concerns that the current investigation was tainted by political interference. She asserted that her husband, who served as a driver for a Congress Assembly election candidate, was allegedly murdered by individuals associated with a sitting BJP MLA. Ali claimed that the ongoing investigation by the state police lacked impartiality and fairness.
Supreme Court’s Directive
In response to these allegations, the Supreme Court instructed the Director General of Police in Madhya Pradesh to establish a five-member SIT. This team is to be led by an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from outside the state’s cadre, tasked with re-investigating the matter thoroughly. The Court noted that such measures were necessary to ensure justice and fair play, given the nature of the allegations.
Opposition from State Authorities
Representing the State of Uttar Pradesh, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju opposed the petition, maintaining that the investigation had been conducted independently, fairly, and was nearing completion. Despite these claims, the Supreme Court highlighted that four eyewitnesses had not had their testimonies recorded by the investigating agency, which raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation.
Formation of the SIT
The Court’s order specifies that the SIT is to comprise three IPS officers of Senior Superintendent of Police rank, alongside two officers of at least Deputy Superintendent of Police rank. Importantly, all members must be from outside the jurisdiction of Chhatarpur district, and the SIT leader must be an IPS officer currently serving in Madhya Pradesh but originally from another state.
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Further Directives
The Bench has mandated that the SIT should be constituted within two days and take immediate custody of all records from the existing investigation team. The SIT must also formally record the affidavits and statements of the eyewitnesses and consider them before submitting a report to the competent court.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the SIT would proceed with the investigation independently, without being influenced by previous findings, ensuring a fresh and lawful approach to the case.
