SC notice on plea to shift Rajasthan hate killer to Tihar

The Supreme court on Monday sought response from the Central and Rajasthan governments on a plea to move Rajasthan hate killer Shambhu Lal Raigar -- accused of murdering labourer Afrazul Khan -- from Jodhpur Central Jail to Tihar jail in Delhi.

Gulbahar Bibi -- the widow of Khan, a labourer who was hacked and burnt alive last year -- sought that Raigar be moved to either Tihar or some other jail outside Rajasthan.

The plea mentioned that Raigar uploaded two videos carrying his hate speech against the Muslim community which he uploaded from the Jodhpur jail where he is lodged in "highly secured" barracks. He had filmed the murder also.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud also sought a response on the plea seeking the shifting of trial from Rajasthan to either Delhi or any other place outside the state.

The court issued notice to the Centre and Rajasthan after senior counsel Indira Jaising told the court that the videos uploaded by the accused were being viewed by people on Whatsapp, YouTube and other social media platforms.

The petitioner said the fact that the accused was able to access an electronic device, and make and an upload a video raises serious doubts about the security at the prison.

Seeking the removal of the two videos from social media platforms, Gulbahar Bibi raised questions about the investigation into the gruesome killing.

Jodhpur jail authorities have registered a case under Information Technology Act and Prison Act.

In the last hearing of the matter on February 16, the court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to respond to the plea for transfer of probe from Rajasthan Police to it (CBI).

--IANS

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