Bhubaneswar minor girl gang-rape: Odisha HC asks govt to submit progress report of probe

Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court today asked the State government to submit a progress report of the probe into the Bhubaneswar minor girl gang-rape case.

During a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in connection with the Bhubaneswar minor girl gang-rape case, a division bench comprising of Chief Justice of the Orissa HC, Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice BR Sarangi directed the government to submit the probe progress report on November 9, the next date for hearing. Also the court asked the government to provide security to the victim’s family.

The Crime Branch took charge of the minor gang-rape case on October 6. Acting as per the directive issued by the HC, the Crime Branch SP was appointed as investigation officer of the case. This apart, an Additional SP, three women Inspectors and one Inspector from the Cyber Cell have been assisting in the probe.

In its affidavit submitted before the HC, the Crime Branch stated even though the incident occurred in April, a complaint was lodged on August 30. Due to the gap of around four months the investigating agency is facing difficulties in getting the biological evidence in the case, the affidavit mentioned.

Polygraph test of the accused was carried out at the SFSL in Bhubaneswar and the report is awaited, the affidavit added.