The Supreme Court intervened in the case of a woman’s unnatural death in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, by ordering the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough inquiry. The directive was issued on Friday, quashing a suicide abetment charge against a man and raising critical questions about the investigation’s handling by local police.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice K V Viswanathan expressed concerns over the simplistic approach initially taken by the police. According to the bench, authorities quickly charged the appellant based solely on the statements of the deceased woman’s relatives, without delving deeper into the circumstances surrounding her death.
The woman, identified only as Tanu, reportedly died by suicide after a series of tragic events involving her friend Ziaul Rahman, who was allegedly beaten to death by her family members due to their disapproval of his relationship with her. Hours after Rahman succumbed to his injuries in a hospital, Tanu was found dead in her home.
The justices underscored the need for an independent investigation, stating, “Only a comprehensive and thorough investigation will reveal the true story. There are too many unanswered questions, such as the actual cause of the suicide, if it indeed was a suicide, and whether there were other pressures or instigations.”
The court has appointed an officer of the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police to lead the SIT, which is to re-evaluate the entire case, including the possibility of re-registering the FIR as an unnatural death case rather than a suicide. The Supreme Court has also granted the SIT the authority to explore different angles in the investigation, reflecting the complexity of the case’s social and familial dynamics.
The Saharanpur police had previously arrested four of Tanu’s family members, accusing them of causing Rahman’s death by beating him when he entered their property. These events had quickly spiraled, leading to the tragic outcome.
The Supreme Court has mandated that the SIT’s findings be reported back to the court in a sealed cover within two months, ensuring a swift and focused reexamination of the events that led to such devastating consequences.
