SC Appoints Three-Man Panel Of Ex-Judges To Probe Hyderabad Encounter, Asks HC Not To Hear Disha Case

Hyderabad, Dec.12 (Maxim News): Asking the High Court not to hear Disha case, the Supreme Court today appointed a three-member commission to inquire Hyderabad police encounter of four accused in rape and murder of Disha case and sought report in six months.

On hearing the case on second day, CJI SA Bobde appointed the commission to be headed by former SC Judge Sirpurker and retired judge of Bombay High Court Rekha Prakash and former CBI Director Karthikeyan as other members. The CJI directed the commission to start the probe in Hyderabad and submit a detailed report in six months on the encounter. The apex court also instructed the Telangana government to bear all the expenditure for the commission and police to cooperate.

Mukul Rohatgi, State counsel, opposed the commission saying the SIT was probing the case and argued that the police resorted to encounter for self-protection when the accused tried to attack and escape with guns. The Court said the people should know the facts through the commission probe and asked the media for restraint on the issue. The Court also pulled up the counsel and asked whether any police men were injured and where are the bullets, if the accused fired at them during the encounter.

The Court gave a nod for simultaneous probes by NHRC and the commission. On hearing the petitions by Mani, Pradeep Kumar and Mukhesh, the CJI directed the High Court against hearing. (Maxim News)