Palghar Lynching : SC Issues Notice On Plea For CBI/NIA Probe

Th Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice in a petitions seeking NIA and CBI probe into the Palghar Lynching case.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bushan, M R Shah and V Ramasubramanian issued notice in the petitions filed by filed by Hindu Sadhus of Shri Panch Dashban Juna Akhara and relatives of the two deceased Sadhu's,  alleging bias by the State authorities currently investigating the matter.

While the petition filed by Juna Akhara Sadhus sought CBI probe, the petition filed by Ghanshyam Upadhyay sought NIA probe.

Advocate Balaji Srinivasan, appearing in the petition filed by Sadhus, submitted that witnesses were committing suicide, and there were reasons to believe that the investigation was not following the right course.

Advocate Subhash Jha, appearing in the connected matter, said that there was apprehension of tampering of evidence.

State of Maharashtra opposed the plea saying that the Bombay HC was already seized of the matter.

The top court proceeded to issue notice to Maharashtra government, Maharashtra DGP, Central Government, NIA and CBI, returnable within two weeks. The matter will be taken up next in the second week of July.

 On April 16, two saints travelling from Mumbai to Surat had their car stopped by a mob of over 200 people. This mob then proceeded to upturn the car and pelt stones, eventually resulting in the death of both the saints.

On May 22, the Maharashtra police had filed two reports in a sealed cover  with regard to the investigation in the case.