New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said that the suspected dowry death case of model-turned-actor Twisha Sharma must be investigated in a “fair, independent and unbiased” manner and urged both sides to refrain from making public statements capable of influencing the ongoing probe.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, while hearing the suo motu case registered over allegations of institutional bias and procedural discrepancies in the investigation, said it was “slightly in pain” over certain developments emerging through media coverage.
“We will request our media friends not to go for the statements of the victim’s family or the other family. Let things move as per law and procedure,” the Bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, observed.
During the hearing, the apex court observed that the suo motu proceedings were initiated in the backdrop of a narrative suggesting institutional bias in the investigation, particularly as the husband of the deceased is an advocate and her mother-in-law a retired judicial officer.
The CJI Kant-led Bench said it had no doubt that both the victim’s family and the accused would cooperate with the investigation and also expressed confidence in the probe agencies, including the CBI. “We have no doubt that whichever agency investigates the matter will carry the probe to its logical conclusion and uncover the truth,” remarked the CJI Kant-led Bench.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, informed the top court that the CBI would take over the investigation immediately and assured that the necessary administrative formalities would be completed without delay.
Recording the submission, the CJI Kant-led Bench noted in its order that the Centre’s second-highest law officer had assured that the matter would be taken up with the concerned authorities to ensure that the CBI assumes charge of the investigation expeditiously.
The Supreme Court also requested both the victim’s family and the accused persons to place their versions before the investigating agency instead of making statements on media platforms.
“We request both sides that whatever statements they wish to make should be made before the investigating agency so that the ongoing probe is not adversely affected,” the CJI Kant-led Bench observed.
Appealing to the media to exercise restraint, the top court requested news platforms to avoid recording or publishing statements of persons who may be potential witnesses in the case, saying such coverage could affect the outcome of issues yet to be investigated.
It further requested the public to refrain from speculation and place trust in the investigation being conducted by the country’s premier investigating agency.
At the same time, the apex court clarified that it had not expressed any opinion on the allegations involved in the case and said all aspects would be independently examined by the CBI.
The case relates to the death of Twisha Sharma, who was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12, triggering widespread outrage and allegations of dowry harassment by her family.
The top court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter amid concerns over alleged procedural lapses, including delay in FIR registration, inconsistencies in post-mortem findings, and apprehensions of bias in the investigation.
(IANS)
