Telangana Encounter: Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea by family of accused who were killed in encounter

The Supreme Court today refused to entertain petitions filed by the kin of the four persons killed in the Telangana encounter in December last year (Disha rape and murder case).

The petitioners had sought for FIRs to be registered against the police personnel who killed the four men accused of raping and murdering a 27-year-old woman, dubbed 'Disha'. Additionally, compensation was also prayed for by the petitioners.

The Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant refused to entertain the plea. It directed the petitioners to approach the three-member Commission set up by the Apex Court on December 12, last year. As per the Supreme Court's December 12 order, the Commission is expected to furnish a report within six months.

The petitioners have been granted liberty to approach the Commission to tender evidence after it has given its report. The Court allowed the petitioners to withdraw the plea, after also adding that they will have the liberty to claim compensation before the Telangana High Court.

The four persons accused of the rape and murder of 27-year-old Disha were taken to the scene of the crime around 60 Km from Hyderabad “for a re-construction as part of the investigation“ last December before they were killed for allegedly trying to escape.

Two PILs were subsequently moved in the Supreme Court, one by Advocates Mani and Yadav, and another by Advocate ML Sharma. The PILs registered an objection to the extra-judicial killing of the four accused since their guilt was yet to be proved.

An inquiry commission headed by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice VS Sirpurkar (Retd.) was subsequently constituted to probe the matter. The Commission also comprises former Bombay High Court judge, Justice RP Sondurbaldota and former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, DR Karthikeyan as its members.