SC orders Adityanath to give Rs. 25L to Unnao teen
It took a deadly accident of a rape survivor for the Supreme Court to finally wake up and realize law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh has become a joke. The aforementioned survivor was allegedly raped by ex-BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in 2017. Two years after the crime, SC asked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to give Rs. 25 lakh to the victim.
Backstory: A bit about the case which shamed India
The victim was a minor when Sengar, an influential politician, raped her. Such was his clout that victim's repeated complaints went unheard. Only after she tried to alight herself, did the case create ripples. But even then, rather than arresting Sengar, UP police locked her father, who died in custody. If CBI hadn't taken over the investigation, Sengar would have probably remained free forever.
Threatened, victim's family wrote some 36 letters to top officials
Even when he was in jail, Sengar continued to harass the survivor and her family. His henchmen wanted them to drop the case. Their threats prompted the family to write letters to UP's top officials. Since April 2018, her family wrote as many as 36 letters to officials seeking protection from Sengar and his men. No one heard them and they went to SC.
Survivor went to SC but got no respite
So did SC help them? No! In a letter dated July 12, the victim urged CJI Ranjan Gogoi to take action against Sengar's men. She informed him about incidents which happened between July 7 and 8. Her cry for help kicked a media storm but CJI maintained he hadn't seen the letter yet. On Wednesday, the court said the matter would be taken up.
SC put CBI on deadline, asked to solve cases soon
Taking up the matter, CJI Gogoi asked CBI to send a responsible officer to explain about the probe in both the rape and accident cases. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, requested that the matter be adjourned till Friday since officers investigating the cases were out of Delhi. But the bench didn't relent and put CBI on a deadline instead.
CBI got seven days to probe car crash
SC gave CBI seven days to solve the accident case. An extension of seven days might be given if required. Further, the trial into the rape case should be completed within 45 days from when it begins, the court said. Understanding that UP police has done nothing in sensitive matter, the bench ordered that all cases related to Unnao should be shifted to Delhi.
If only they heard the survivor's pleas before!
Further, Adityanath was ordered to pay Rs. 25 lakh to the victim and Centre directed to give CRPF protection to her family and lawyer. The court's order shows it is in damage control mode. If the letter to CJI Gogoi hadn't made it to the news, the top court might not have taken cognizance of the case. While those on top kept sleeping, the survivor fought. Still is!
