Supreme Court Hearing Manipur Viral Video Case; Centre Cites No Objection to SC Monitoring Probe

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday is conducting a hearing in the Manipur assault viral video case, even as the Centre announced that it has no objection if the SC monitors the probe.

The apex court is also set to review the Union government's plea to move the trial of the case which concerns the assault of two women by a mob in Manipur on May 4. The incident, which was captured in a video that went viral, triggered widespread outrage among the people.

The government wants to relocate the trial outside Manipur and ensure that it is concluded within six months from the date of filing of the charge sheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has taken over the probe.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing in court the two victim women from Manipur, said that the women do not want the CBI to probe into the case or transfer of the case to Assam.

In reply, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is appearing for the government, said they have never requested the trial to be transferred to Assam. They only said that the matter should be transferred outside Manipur.

On the other hand, Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who represents the Kuki side, while opposing the CBI probe has sought that the investigation be conducted by SIT comprising retired DGPs. He asked the Supreme Court not to include any officer from Manipur.

Earlier, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud said although this video came to light, this is not an isolated incident where women were assaulted or harassment was done, adding that there are also other women. He rooted for a mechanism to see the broader issue of violence against women, a mechanism to ensure that all such cases are considered.

The CJI proceeded to ask about the number of such FIRs which have been filed since May 3, when the violence in Manipur started

Replying to the query by the CJI, Senior advocate Indira Jaising informed the Supreme Court that as per the Centre’s status report, 595 FIRs have been registered. However, it is not known how many of these relate to sexual violence, and how many of arson and murder, Jaising said.

Senior advocate Jaising told the Supreme Court that, as far as the law is concerned, victims of rape don't talk about it, and their trauma doesn't come out. He said the first thing is to build confidence. It is not certain that women will come out if the CBI starts an investigation. “Women will be comfortable with talking to women about the incident instead of police,” he said, calling for a High Powered Committee comprising women from civil societies with experience in dealing with survivors.

Advocate Vrinda Grover asked the Supreme Court for an independent, impartial report on the status of relief camps, where the relatives of the victims are lodged.

The political fallout of the incident was also apparent, as the delegation of Opposition INDIA MPs, on their return from Manipur slammed the Central and state governments on their ‘failure’ to put a stop to the violence and restore peace in the state.

The floor leaders of INDIA parties met Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding that the MPs delegation who visited Manipur should be present the ground reality of Manipur in their respective Houses.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2pm after the opposition protested over the Manipur issue.

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