Date:16/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/16/stories/2006051606451300.htm

National

Sex scam: CBI asked to submit status report

Shujaat Bukhari

Jammu and Kashmir High Court to monitor the case

The court makes the CBI as a party in the case
Allows recording of statements of detained bar girls under Section 164

Urges media should be self-restraint

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday asked the Central Bureau Investigation to file by Tuesday a status report on the probe into the sex scandal, which broke out here.

The court would henceforth monitor the case. It made the CBI a party in the case and allowed recording of statements of the detained bar girls under Section 164.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Hakim Imtiaz Hussain and Bashir Ahmed Kirmani was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by the Kashmir Bar Association.

It was a sensitive case and needed to be investigated seriously, the judges said. The CBI report on the progress of investigation should be submitted confidentially every day until further orders.

"To start with, the status report shall be submitted by 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday."

The court asked Advocate-General Altaf Naik what material was transferred to the CBI and what was the status of the case till May 11 when the agency formally took over the probe.

Earlier, the Bench directed that a CBI representative be present in the court with all relevant records.