Manipur fake encounters: SC raps CBI

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) why no arrests were made till date after chargesheets were filed in four of the Manipur fake encounters cases.

A two-judge bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur and also comprising Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, asked the CBI Director, Alok Verma, to take a call on arresting police officers and/or army personnel accused in the aforementioned case.

The top court observed that according to the CBI chargesheets, at least 15 people were identified for committing murder, however, no arrests were made so far.

To this, the CBI Director said there was only circumstantial evidence against the 15 people named, and no documentary evidence or recovery was made from them.

Verma appeared before the apex court, complying with the court's previous order, summoning him to personally appear and justify the delay in completing the investigation and filing the chargesheets in the cases.

Justice Lokur asked Verma, "what are the problems the probe agency is facing at present. You can sit together with your officers and discuss how to sort out issues and try to expeditiously complete the investigation and file the chargesheet."

The Apex Court observed prima facie, it seems that the deaths were due to fake encounter. "You are dealing with the lives of people," Justice Lokur observed.

Verma, however, expressed his submissions to the apex court and said the CBI was deeply concerned with the loss of lives.

"The investigation will be completed as soon as possible and we are doing it seriously. The chargesheet will also be filed within three months," Verma said.

Amicus Curiae (Friend of the Court) Maneka Guruswamy, submitted to the apex court that there were issues of translators, investigators and others in the probe agency, which needed to be sorted out.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for one of the petitioners, told the supreme court that there seems to be a decision by the CBI to not conduct any custodial interrogation.

Objecting to this, the SC said it cannot direct the CBI on how to conduct an investigation, and fixed the matter for further hearing to August 20, when Verma has to appear again before it.