Mattoo case: CBI to move HC
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Dec 10 — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today decided to appeal to the Delhi High Court against the acquittal of the accused Santosh Kumar Singh in the Priyadarshani Mattoo’s murder case.

The CBI decision came after the Special Directors perused the order of the Sessions Court which criticised the Bureau while acquitting the accused Santosh Kumar Singh, son of a senior IPS officer.

The decision to file an appeal was announced by the CBI spokesperson Mr S.M. Khan, this evening.

While acquitting the accused, the Additional Sessions Judge Mr G.P. Thareja, had passed severe comments over the manner in which the prosecuting agency proceeded and said the CBI had fabricated the DNA test in the rape case.

Priyadarshani Mattoo, a final year law student of Delhi University was allegedly raped and then strangled on January 23, 1996 in her Vasant Kunj residence. The accused, son of IG Mr J.P. Singh, was a fellow student.

Following the judgement, several women organisations had urged the Centre and the issue also cropped up in Parliament in the past two days.

Several MPs raised the issue during zero hour demanding the resignation of the CBI chief and response from the Prime Minister.

Yesterday, the Union Home Minister Mr L.K. Advani summoned the CBI Director, Mr R.K. Raghavan to brief him about various aspects of the case.

Today, the Congress Chief Whip, Mr Priyaranjan Dasmunshi wrote a letter to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention since the CBI functions under him.

“The matter is extremely serious for the apprehension of people regarding the uncalled for nexus between high-ups in the police and the CBI to suppress the truthful and logical investigation of such cases where accused is related to the high-ups of the police,’’ Mr Dasmunshi said.

He demanded that an inquiry should be held into the matter as to who were primarily responsible for keeping a key witness away from the trial and by people who were not in the CBI.