Geetika suicide case: court directs expeditious investigation

"A copy of the order be sent to Secretary, Home, Delhi government, the Director (Prosecution) and the Commissioner of Police with a direction to ensure expeditious investigation in the present case," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate D K Jangala ordered.

The order of the court came after the Delhi Police moved a plea under section 309 CrPC for expeditious proceedings.

While examining the role of the prosecution in the case, the court noted that the Investigating Officer (IO) and the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) had remained absent on several dates of hearing "without any justified grounds".

While noting that the forensic result on electronic data and documents is still awaited, the court said "submissions made by the IO show that not even a single step has been taken by the prosecution to get the results (from FSL) expedited."

"Investigation is being conducted by an officer of the rank of Additional DCP and monitored by District DCP and Joint Commisioner of Police. However, there seems to be very sorry state of affairs that none of these officers took pain to write a priority letter to get the results of FSL expedited.

"It seems that by moving the present application (for speedy trial), the prosecution is just doing lip service instead of having true interest in expeditious proceedings," the court said.