Manipur Sexual Violence: Supreme Court Asks CBI To Refrain From Recording Statements Of Survivors

The Supreme Court on Tuesday restrained the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from taking statements of the survivors of the Manipur sexual violence case which was recorded in a horrific video that went viral on social media.A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud orally told the Solicitor General to ask the CBI to wait since the Court is scheduled to hear at 2 PM today the cases related to Manipur. The Court is contemplating setting up a panel to record the statements of the survivors and is going to consider the plea for a Special Investigation Team.Today morning, Advocate Nizam Pasha made an urgent mention before the CJI to inform about the move of the CBI to record the statements of the survivors."The CBI is already coming to record the statement of the victims by noon. Let it await the hearing at 2 pm", Pasha said.CJI DY Chandrachud, assented to the request and said–"Mr SG, just ask them to wait, we're going to take it at 2 pm today." SG agreed to convey the message to the CBI and said that they must have gone in "good faith".The Supreme Court is currently hearing a batch of petitions seeking for an independent court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the violence, specifically targeted sexual violence, in the State of Manipur. It may be noted that the two women survivors seen in the video have submitted before the bench that they are opposed to the Centre's proposal to hand over the investigation to the CBI and transfer the trial to Assam. In the last hearing, their counsel Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal had stated–"They (Union govt) have transferred the matter to CBI and they want to move the matter to Assam. We're against both."Sibal had contended that the investigation must be carried out by an agency in which the victims had confidence.On July 20, the Supreme Court had taken suo moto cognisance of the issue and had directed the Centre and the State Government to inform it of the steps taken to bring the perpetrators into law. The court has stated in no uncertain terms that it would give a little time for the government to take action but if something was not done soon, it would step in.In response, the Union Government decided to entrust the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the investigation in the matter. The step was taken with the consent of the State Government of Manipur considering the gravity of the offence. The Union Government also requested the Supreme Court to transfer the trial out of the State of Manipur to any other State. Along with this, it also sought a direction to complete the trial within six months of filing the chargesheet.

Manipur Sexual Violence: Supreme Court Asks CBI To Refrain From Recording Statements Of Survivors

Padmakshi Sharma

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