The Supreme Court of India on Monday stepped into the investigation of the horrific rape of a four-year-old girl in Gurugram, issuing notices to the Haryana government and the state’s Director General of Police (DGP). A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant has demanded the presence of the Gurugram Police Commissioner and the Investigating Officer (IO) on March 25, citing concerns over the handling of the case.
The apex court’s intervention follows a plea seeking a transfer of the probe to either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The Bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, has directed that the entire case record be produced during the next hearing.
In a significant move to ensure accountability, the Supreme Court has also tasked the District Judge of Gurugram with obtaining a response from the concerned Magistrate regarding allegations of “insensitive handling” of the matter.
This development comes after the court agreed to an urgent hearing on March 20, following a mention by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi. The counsel highlighted a series of alleged systemic failures, claiming that despite a detailed statement provided by the minor victim to the Magistrate, the police had failed to make any arrests.
During the proceedings, Rohatgi presented a grim picture of the current state of the investigation. He submitted that the crime scene had not been secured, CCTV footage was not seized, and no action had been taken against suspects, including household staff allegedly involved in the incident.
“There is no arrest made. The site has not been secured. No CCTV taken. Household maids are involved,” Rohatgi told the Bench.
While the Chief Justice initially suggested that the petitioners approach the High Court, the plea for the Supreme Court’s direct involvement was upheld due to the gravity of the case. Rohatgi argued that since the victim’s father is employed in Gurugram and the High Court is located in Chandigarh, the “highest court of the country” needed to send a clear message in such a “horrific case.”
The case is now scheduled for further hearing on March 25, where the Gurugram police must explain the lack of progress in the investigation.
