The Supreme Court of India on Monday scheduled a critical hearing for April 24 regarding a petition filed by the father of a four-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and killed in Ghaziabad last month. The petitioner is seeking a court-monitored investigation by either a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing a lack of transparency and initial police negligence.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi presided over the matter. During the proceedings, the court’s attention was drawn to procedural discrepancies regarding the documents provided to the victim’s family.
The hearing took a sharp turn when the bench questioned the petitioner’s counsel, senior advocate N Hariharan, on whether they had reviewed the police chargesheet. Hariharan informed the court that while a copy had been provided, several pages of the document were “blacked out,” hindering their ability to assess the investigation’s thoroughness.
In response, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the police, assured the court that a complete, unredacted copy of the chargesheet would be provided to the petitioner’s counsel immediately.
The bench noted the development and stated, “We will take it up on Friday (April 24),” allowing the petitioner time to examine the full document for potential gaps in the investigation.
The case stems from a horrific incident on March 16, when the four-year-old victim was allegedly lured away by a neighbor under the guise of buying chocolates. Her father later discovered her unconscious and severely injured. The case reached the apex court following allegations of systemic failure at multiple levels.
The Supreme Court has been notably critical of the local authorities’ handling of the case. During an April 13 hearing, the bench flagged the “reluctance” of the Ghaziabad Police in initially lodging an FIR and conducting a prompt investigation. Earlier, on April 10, the court lambasted the “insensitive approach” of the police and expressed dismay over reports that two private hospitals in Ghaziabad refused to admit the bleeding child, who was eventually declared dead at a government facility.
The court was informed that a chargesheet, dated April 3, has already been filed under enhanced sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The trial court concerned has taken cognisance of the charges.
The Supreme Court had previously directed the police to supply the chargesheet to the family so they could identify if an independent SIT probe is still warranted. The upcoming hearing on April 24 will determine if the current investigation is sufficient or if the case requires a higher level of oversight.
