Victim Herself Has Approached Us: Karnataka High Court Disposes PIL Challenging SIT Probe In Ramesh Jarkiholi Sex CD Scandal Case
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday disposed of a public interest litigation seeking to quash the order passed by the Commissioner of Police, forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising of Six (6) police officers to conduct investigation in the alleged sex CD case, involving former Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi.A division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice S R...
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday disposed of a public interest litigation seeking to quash the order passed by the Commissioner of Police, forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising of Six (6) police officers to conduct investigation in the alleged sex CD case, involving former Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice S R Krishna Kumar in its order said, "The PIL, was the first petition filed on the issues involved. Subsequently the victim herself has approached the court by filing the petition. The order under challenge in PIL is also under challenge in the subsequent writ petition. With the consent of the parties, once the victim has challenged the constitution of SIT, there is no purpose of keeping the PIL alive. Accordingly the PIL is disposed of."
It added, "However, it is made clear that the remaining two petitions which are connected with the PIL shall be listed before the regular roster bench for disposal. The PIL shall be attached with the two petitions for the purpose of reference of documents relied. The counsel for the PIL petitioner seeks permission to assist the court. List before the regular court on Monday."
The Supreme Court had by its order dated February 19, stayed the Karnataka High Court's order dated February 3, 2022 of allowing SIT formed for probing complaint of rape and charges of conspiracy against former Minister Ramesh Jharkiholi.
dated 11/03/2021
The court had passed the stay order in a special leave petition filed by the victim against the High Court order. The bench had also asked the High Court to dispose of the matter on the next date of hearing i.e. March 9, 2022.
On July 27 last year, a High Court division bench led by the then Chief Justice Abhay S Oka (since elevated to the Supreme Court) restrained the SIT from filing the final report after raising certain questions regarding the legality of the investigation. The victim had alleged that the SIT was attempting to give a clean chit to Jarkiholi, who had to quit after the sex CD scandal.
On February 3, a bench led by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi allowed the SIT to submit the final report.
Case Title: Geetha Misra v. State Of Karnataka
Case No: WP 6586/2021