'Why your IO is playing hide and seek with this court?': SC Pulls Up Uttar Pradesh Govt Over Hate Crime Case

The petitioner in the case had earlier claimed that the he was attacked because of 'his beard and ostensible Muslim identity'.

The Wire Staff

The petitioner in the case had earlier claimed that the he was attacked because of 'his beard and ostensible Muslim identity'.

why your io is playing hide and seek with this court sc pulls up uttar pradesh govt over hate crime case

The Supreme Court of India building. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday (April 21) asked the Uttar Pradesh government that why is its investigating officer (IO) “playing hide and seek” with the apex court.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made the remarks while hearing a plea seeking a fair investigation and trial over a complaint by a senior citizen, who claimed that he was abused and tortured in an alleged hate crime in Noida in July 2021, reported Hindustan Times.

"Why your IO is playing hide and seek with this court?" the court asked the state, while questioning why section 153-B of the IPC was not added to the case. Section 153-B of the erstwhile IPC pertains to the offence of imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.

The petitioner in the case had earlier claimed that the he was attacked because of "his beard and ostensible Muslim identity", reported Hindustan Times.

The court asked additional solicitor general (ASG) K.M. Nataraj, who appeared for Uttar Pradesh, as to why the police has not added section 153-B of the Indian Penal Code in the case.

Nataraj submitted in the court that the trial court has allowed the police to conduct further investigation in the case and the police would add the necessary provisions

“We are not satisfied with the compliance affidavit filed by the respondent. Please advise your officers otherwise they will be in trouble. We have no fun in calling them and giving them a dressing down,” said the court.

The bench said that it was inclined to summon the IO but on Nataraj's request, it was granting two weeks to ensure full compliance. The court posted the matter for hearing on May 19.

The petitioner has said in his plea that he was a victim of a "dastardly hate crime" in Noida on July 4, 2021, when he was "abused, tortured and systematically stripped of his dignity" by a group of individuals.

The petitioner stated that he was attacked and derogatory words related to his "religious identity" were hurled at him.

This article went live on April twenty-second, two thousand twenty six, at twenty-five minutes past twelve at noon.

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