Haven't Seen Such A Case In 30 Years: Justice Pardiwala On Abhaya Probe

New Delhi: After reviewing the CBI findings of the ongoing probe in Kolkata trainee Doctor rape and murder, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Padriwala expressed extreme shock.While hearing the case in top court on Thursday, Justice J.B Padriwala said, "I have never seen such a case in 30 years."

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court consisting Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, JB Padriwala and Manoj Misra was hearing the case.

Justice Padriwala slammed Mamata Banerjee led West Bengal government and Kolkata police regarding timings of post-mortem and recording the unnatural deaths.

"I have never encountered such a procedure in my entire career as a lawyer or judge," said Justice Pardiwala, expressing doubts about the timing of the postmortem and the recording of the unnatural death.

The top court has put a question mark on the entire procedure taken by Kolkata police during the investigation. SC expressed concern over the state police's investigation, stating that the procedures followed did not align with the guidelines set by the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The Court was particularly troubled by the significant delay in the Kolkata Police’s registration of an unnatural death, calling it "extremely disturbing."

The justices questioned the timing and sequence of legal steps taken by the police, including the registration of the unnatural death and the subsequent postmortem. The Court scrutinized whether these actions were conducted appropriately according to legal standards.

Prior to the start of the hearing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted a sealed report detailing the current status of the investigation. This submission was made in compliance with the Supreme Court’s earlier directive on the first day of the hearing.

The Supreme Court is hearing plea in connection with the heinous crime that took place in RG Kar Medical College on the night of Aug 9. 

The Supreme Court has taken Suo motu cognizance of the horrific rape of the 31-year-old trainee doctor. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court is now hearing the case, with the CBI having submitted its report to the court, placing the West Bengal government and the Kolkata police in a tough spot.