A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was recently mandated by the Supreme Court of India to look into the alleged torture of two women, Rebeka Khatun Molla and Rama Das, who were detained in September amid demonstrations against the rape and killing of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Following the unfortunate event, there was a greater outrage, which included the protests. The two women were arrested on suspicion of “instigating” another protester to attack the daughter of ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee.
The women’s allegations that they had been physically abused while in police custody brought attention to the case. They claimed torture in a plea they filed in the Calcutta High Court after being freed. One of the women’s legs had a hematoma (a blood clot), according to a jail doctor, although Diamond Harbour Medical College said there were no obvious wounds. This disparity sparked concerns about how the ladies were treated while they were being held.
First, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation was mandated by the Calcutta High Court. The Supreme Court, however, disapproved of this ruling. The High Court’s ruling was overturned by a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, who emphasized that not all cases have to be sent to the CBI. Rather, the Supreme Court ruled that the investigation will be carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) made up of senior officers chosen by the West Bengal administration. The SIT was required by the Court to provide the Calcutta High Court with weekly progress reports.
Additionally, the Supreme Court ordered the SIT to carry out the probe objectively and without regard to the High Court’s earlier statements. Additionally, it advised the women to get help directly from the SIT. Instead of involving the CBI in this case, the Court’s choice to designate the SIT shows its faith in the state’s capacity to manage the inquiry through knowledgeable individuals.
This decision emphasizes how crucial it is to provide impartial, independent investigations in delicate circumstances. The Supreme Court’s intervention sought to uphold accountability and transparency while honoring the state’s investigative powers.
SOURCE :
NDTV
