Kathua Rape: Witnesses to be accompanied by family members during questioning by Police, SC

The Supreme Court today allowed three witnesses in the Kathua case to be accompanied by their family members while recording statements before the Jammu & Kashmir Police..A Bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud passed this order after the three witnesses in the case had moved the Supreme Court alleging harassment and torture by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, when recording their statements..Senior Advocate Arvind Datar and advocates Ravi Sharma and Laksh Khanna appeared for the petitioners..The petitioners, who are classmates of one of the accused persons, Vishal Jangotra, were summoned as witnesses by the police. It is their contention that they were “coerced to make a statement contrary to the fact that Vishal Jangotra was with them at Miranpur, Muzzafar Nagar, Uttar Pradesh from January 7, 2018, to February 10, 2018.”.“During that period, he along with petitioners attended examinations and practical papers.” .The petitioners have alleged that they were subjected to physical and mental torture from March 19, 2018, to March 31, 2018, by J&K Police. It is their contention that they were abused, humiliated and beaten mercilessly for admitting something contrary to the truth and facts..During the last hearing, the Court had asked the State of Jammu & Kashmir to respond to the petition..The respondent State today claimed foul play vis-a-vis genuineness of the statements made by the witnesses and said that these witnesses started claiming torture only after they were made aware that an FSL report has been prepared in the case..The Counsel for the respondent said that these three students, who are witnesses, in this case, have made false statements and are apprehensive of being exposed now which has led to this claim of torture..The respondent also told the Court that they wish to file a supplementary charge sheet in light of the fresh material that has emerged..While CJI Misra reminded the respondent that the Court is not concerned with the investigation, Justice Khanwilkar asked the respondents why the witnesses were being treated akin to accused..The Court then passed an order allowing family members of the witnesses to accompany them till a reasonable visible distance at the time of recording of statements by the police..The matter is now listed for the first week of July.. Read Order: