Asaram rape case: SC pulls up Gujarat Police for slow trial
6 April 2018 4:58 PM GMT
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Gujarat Police for delay in completion of recording of evidence in the rape case against self-styled preacher Asaram Bapu, lodged in Jodhpur jail, and directed it to conclude the process within five weeks.
The top court questioned the state police for delay in completion of the trial in the case and said that "it cannot go like this for months".
A bench of justices NV Ramana and S Abdul Nazeer, which sought to know the status of the trial, was told by Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, that the victim's statement has been recorded.
"The prosecutrix has recorded her statement. Only the star witnesses in the case are now remaining to be examined," Mehta said.
To this, the bench asked the ASG, how much time is needed for examining the star witnesses. Mehta said that the process will take two-three more months to be completed.
"How much more months do you want. It cannot go on like this for months. You have to complete it in five weeks. List the matter in five weeks," the bench said and adjourned the bail plea of Asaram.
On January 22, the Gujarat government had told the apex court that the victim in a rape case against Asaram will be examined from January 29.
The court had on January 15 sought to know the status of trial in the case and asked the Gujarat government to file a progress report on it.
Asaram's counsel had then told the court that in the Gujarat case, out of 92 witnesses, 22 material witnesses have been examined, 14 of them have been dropped and rest need to be examined.
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