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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Latur (PTI): A minor girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by an 18-year-old man in Latur, leading to the arrest of the main accused and owners of two cafes where the crime occurred on December 4, police said on Saturday.
Police traced the girl within hours of registering the complaint. The accused, identified as Rihan Gulab Shaikh, was arrested based on the girl's complaint. Two others are owners of two cafes where the crime occurred, police said.
Police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), POCSO Act, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, an official said.
