Murthal gangrapes: HC pulls up Haryana govt for seeking more time to collect facts

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday pulled up the Haryana government for seeking more time to “collect more facts” in the Murthal gangrape case. The counsel appearing for the Haryana government, however, admitted that rapes had taken place during the Jat quota agitation in February in Murthal. The court has also directed the government to produce the second part of the Prakash Singh Committee report on 7 July, the next date of hearing. The Haryana government claimed before the court that it had got “fresh leads” into the alleged gangrape incidents. [caption id=“attachment_2852610” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of the Jat agitation. PTI[/caption] Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said at this stage, it could not be said as to which way the investigation would lead to but there were some leads. Hence, the state be given more time which was granted. The court had sought the second part of the Prakash Singh Committee report into the matter which the government failed to produce on Monday. At least 30 people were killed and property worth crores of rupees destroyed during the 10-day Jat agitation in February over reservation in government jobs and education. The court categorically asserted that the Murthal rapes had undoubtedly taken place. “There can be no doubt…even they (Haryana) are not denying it,” observed a division bench of justices SS Saron and Lisa Gill. “Earlier, there was reluctance on your part to even register an FIR. But now, you have accepted that rape had taken place,” the bench said. The assertion came after Mehta sought additional time to come up with “something more concrete”. Responding to the request, the bench asserted that the fact of rape had not been denied and it was now all about identifying the victim and accused. “Let’s not deviate from the main path which is identification of the victim and ensuring justice,” the bench observed. “This time, things had gone too far. We want results,” it remarked. Earlier, amicus curiae Anupam Gupta said he was not opposed to the grant of additional time to the special investigating agency.