Nation

New Delhi (August 25,2023) : The Supreme Court on Friday said that the change in stance of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Mumbai court led to the early release of the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. The case relates to the gangrape and murder of Bilkis Bano, a 19-year-old Muslim woman, during the Gujarat riots in 2002. The CBI had initially filed a chargesheet against 21 people, but the Mumbai court acquitted all of them in 2017.

The Supreme Court had then ordered a retrial in the case. However, the CBI did not appeal the acquittal of the accused in the High Court. The court also did not take suo motu cognizance of the matter. As a result, the convicts were released from jail in 2020.

The Supreme Court has now said that the CBI's failure to appeal the acquittal of the accused and the Mumbai court's decision not to take suo motu cognizance of the matter were "serious lapses". The court has ordered a fresh investigation into the case and has directed the CBI to file a report within six months. The Supreme Court's order is a major setback for the victims of the Gujarat riots and their families. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in India.