New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI and the trial court to ensure the appearance and examination of two key victim-witnesses in the Manipur sexual violence case.
It directed the agency to ensure that the two victim-witnesses appear on the dates fixed by the trial court. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for an accused whose bail has been challenged, submitted that the CBI had not been able to conduct the trial at the required pace. The court order directed the CBI to ensure that the two victim-witnesses are produced before the trial court on the dates fixed October 7, 9 and 28 and that their statements are recorded on those dates.
“The victims were sexually assaulted in the worst possible manner… thereafter paraded and video-recorded,” Singh said, adding that the trial had already commenced. Advocate Nizam Pasha, appearing for the victim-complainant, said that the previous date was a public holiday and the centres where the victims were scheduled to depose were closed.
The top court had asked the Manipur and Assam governments and others to consider setting up two special trial courts to exclusively hear CBI and National Investigation Agency cases arising from the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur.
During the hearing of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s pleas seeking cancellation of bail granted to two accused, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said the trial should proceed expeditiously.
