No evidence against UP Police in the encounter of gangster Vikas Dubey" : SC Panel
The Apex court has found no evidence against UP police in the encounter of gangster Vikas Dubey and his five associates in July, last year. The three-member inquiry commission was guided by SC judge, (rtd) B S Chauhan.
The other members of the commission were former high court judge Justice (retd) Shashi Kant Agarwal and retired Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh K L Gupta. This bench was required to submit the report within two months.
No media, journalists who were constantly chasing the police van with Dubey, on the day of encounter, appeared before the commission, Pranshu Agarwal, the counsel assisting the panel on behalf of the State government stated. Even the wife of the said criminal did not appear for the deposition, despite being notified.
Suspicion cannot replace the hard evidence Agarwal further stated.
The panel submitted the report to the state government on Monday (April 19, 2020) eight months after it was set up.
A senior Police officer said that no witnesses came forward to deny or even question the police claims. There were, however witnesses supporting the police claim, he added.
The top court has asked the center to provide assistance to the commission, either by National Investigation Agency (NIA) or any other central agency.
The Bench will submit the report to the apex court under the statute of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.
