SC orders CBI probe into clashes outside B'lore court last yr

Overturning a Karnataka High Court order, the Supreme Court today ordered CBI investigation into last year's clashes outside a Bangalore court during production of mining baron G Janardhana Reddy.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam set aside the high ciourt order by which a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was ordered to be set up to probe the incident.
"We direct the CBI to carry out the investigation within six months," the bench, also comprising justices Ranjana P Desai and Ranjan Gogoi, said.
The court asked the SIT to hand over the documents and other materials to the CBI for enabling it to investigate the incident.

On May 16, 2012, the high court had ordered constitution of the SIT for investigating the clashes.
On March 2, 2012, several mediapersons and police personnel were injured when they were attacked by unruly lawyers in a Bangalore civil court complex premises.

The advocates had targetted journalists, particularly electronic media crew, who had gathered to cover Reddy's appearance before the court in an illegal mining case.
The advocates had objected to the presence of journalists inside the designated court room even before Reddy was produced.
The lawyers had hurled stones, chairs and water bottles at police and public alike and torched some vehicles, including a police van.