SC rejects plea for fresh probe into Mahatma Gandhi's assassination
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a plea seeking fresh investigation into the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, saying it was not convinced there was any need.
The bench of Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice L. Nageswara Rao dismissed the plea by Pankaj Kumudchandra Phadnis, who had sought re-investigation of the assassination on the basis of fresh material which, he said, was not available earlier and pointed to the involvement of an unseen hand in it.
"We are, however, not satisfied that new research into a long concluded matter justifies a re-initiation of criminal investigation or that anything that might be stated should be allowed to reopen a case such as this," their order said.
The court said that the "criminal cases which result in conviction and even execution of death sentences and the demise of those who have served life sentences ought not to be reviewed, neither is there a provision in law for review".
Addressing the contention that the nation had a right to know the truth, it said: ".... such a right cannot be invoked where the truth is already well-known merely because some academic research raises a different perspective in law.
Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948 by Godse while he was attending daily prayer meeting at Birla House. Nine accused were tried for the conspiracy and murder.
On February 10, 1949, Godse and Narayan Apte were given death sentence, four of the accused were given life sentence and remaining one was sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
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CID probe ordered into Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar's complaint against BJP MLC CT Ravi
Hubballi (Karnataka), Dec 24: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said he has ordered for a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into a case in which BJP leader C T Ravi is accused of using a derogatory word against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council last week.
According to officials, a case that has been registered against unknown persons for allegedly attempting to attack Ravi in the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on December 19, has also been handed over to the CID.
Ravi allegedly used a derogatory word against Hebbalkar in the Legislative Council on December 19 during an altercation between them, when the House was adjourned for a while. He was arrested on the same day evening and taken into the police van from Suvarna Vidhana Soudha premises in Belagavi, based on Hebbalkar's complaint.
"I don't want to comment much on it, I have ordered a CID probe, when the probe is on, one cannot comment or make a statement about it," Parameshwara said in response to a question.
Responding to a question about ordering for the CID probe when Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti termed it as a 'closed chapter', he said, "police will have to do their duty. Chairman will do his duty..."
To a question of five day's delay in filing an FIR into an alleged attempt to attack Ravi, the Home Minister said, "after considering everything, taking Council Chairman's opinion, when things are done procedurally, there might be a delay."
"Everything has to be done in the right manner, so we have given it to CID to probe and find the facts. Ravi has said that he has not used derogatory words, but others including witnesses say something else, all of this has to be investigated, so I have ordered a CID probe," he said.
Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang told PTI that both allegations against Ravi and the case pertaining to allegations regarding attempts to attack him, have been transferred to CID. "Further investigation will be done by the CID."
Responding to the probe being handed over to CID, Ravi said, if CID conducts the probe let it be done under supervision of a sitting judge and let the report be submitted to the judge.
"If the probe is done by the department honestly without succumbing to any pressure, Hirebagewadi police station was enough. If worked under no pressure whether it is a police constable or CID anyone can give justice, if there is pressure no one can provide justice," he told reporters in Chikkamagaluru.
The High Court on December 20 ordered the immediate release of Ravi in its interim order, observing that police failed to follow the procedures in arresting him. However, the bench of Justice M G Uma asked Ravi to co-operate with the investigation and be available for questioning.
