Imphal, July 28: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that it has transferred the probe into a case related to two women being paraded naked in strife-torn Manipur to the CBI, saying the approach of the government was of “zero tolerance towards any crimes against women”.
In an affidavit filed through its secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the Ministry of Home Affairs, also urged the top court to transfer the trial outside Manipur in the case in which seven persons have been arrested so far.
“This is one of the reasons why the Central government with the consent of the State government has taken the decision to entrust the investigation to an independent investigating agency i.e. CBI,” it was submitted on affidavit.
The Central government also assured that the investigation will be completed at the earliest and trial will be held in a time bound manner.
On July 20, the top court after taking note of the incident said that it was “deeply disturbed” by the video and use of women as instruments for perpetrating violence was “simply unacceptable in a constitutional democracy”.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had directed the Centre and Manipur government to take immediate remedial, rehabilitative and preventive steps and apprise it of the action taken.
In response, the Centre said, “the Government of Manipur vide letter dated 26.07.2023 has recommended to Secretary, DOP&T for entrusting the case to CBI for further investigation, which has been duly recommended to Secretary, DOP&T by MHA vide letter dated 27.07.2023. The investigation shall thus, be transferred to CBI.”
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