Unnao case: 'In-camera' proceedings to record rape survivor's statement begins at AIIMS
New Delhi: 'In-camera' proceedings commenced on Wednesday at AIIMS here, where a temporary court has been set up for recording the Unnao rape survivor's statement in the case of alleged sexual assault by expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in 2017.
The woman's statement is being recorded by District Judge Dharmesh Sharma. 'In-camera' proceedings are not open to the public and the press.
Sengar, along with co-accused Shashi Singh, was brought to the temporary court at the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS, where the woman is presently admitted following an accident on July 28.
The Delhi High Court had on Friday approved recording the rape survivor's statement at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Trauma Centre.
A notification to this effect was issued by the high court from the administrative side, which said special judge Sharma, who is conducting trial of the cases, shall record her testimony.
The rape survivor was air-lifted from a Lucknow hospital to Delhi on the Supreme Court orders.
The high court notification came after the apex court during the day asked it to expeditiously decide on the request of a special judge for setting up a temporary court at the AIIMS to record the Unnao rape survivor's statement.
The special judge had recently written a letter to the Delhi High Court seeking permission to hold in-camera proceedings at the AIIMS for recording the woman's statement after doctors said it was "not advisable" to bring her to the court premises.
Sharma informed the Registrar General of the high court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the woman and her family have "no objection" to such deposition.
The apex court also directed the CBI to complete within two weeks its probe and file the charge sheet in the road accident case, in which the rape survivor was injured.
It also indicated that if the special judge needed more than 45 days to complete the proceedings, then it may consider the request.
While transferring the cases related to the Unnao incident to Delhi, the Supreme Court had fixed a time limit of 45 days for the trial court to complete the proceedings.
The apex court had earlier said it wanted "fair and speedy trial" in the cases arising out of the rape of the woman, when she was a minor, allegedly by now expelled BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in Unnao in 2017.
In July, a truck rammed into the car she was travelling in with some family members and her lawyer. Two of her aunts died in the road accident.
She was airlifted from a hospital in Lucknow and brought to the AIIMS for better care as she continued to be critical.
On August 1, the apex court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to provide Rs 25 lakh to the rape survivor as an interim compensation.
It had also directed the state government to pay Rs 5 lakh to the lawyer, who is in a critical condition and undergoing treatment.
The court had earlier ordered transfer of all the five related cases in the matter to Delhi but later modified its order putting in abeyance shifting of the accident case till the probe was completed.
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Nitish announces Rajya Sabha foray, ending tenure as Bihar's longest-serving CM
Patna (PTI): JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced that he will be contesting the Rajya Sabha polls, bringing the curtain down on his tenure as the longest-serving CM of Bihar.
Kumar, who has been the CM since 2005, said the new government that will be formed in the state will have his full cooperation and guidance.
"For more than two decades, you have consistently placed your trust and support in me, and it is on the strength of that trust that we have served Bihar and all of you with complete dedication. It was the power of your trust and support that has enabled Bihar today to present a new dimension of development and dignity," he said, expressing gratitude to the people of the state.
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Kumar said that from the very beginning of his parliamentary journey, he wanted to become a member of both Houses of the Bihar legislature as well as both Houses of Parliament.
"In keeping with this aspiration, I seek to become a member of the Rajya Sabha in the elections being held this time," he said.
"I want to assure you with complete honesty that my relationship with you will continue in the future as well, and my resolve to work together with you to build a developed Bihar will remain steadfast. The new government that will be formed will have my full cooperation and guidance," he added.
With Kumar stepping down after leading the ruling NDA to a landslide victory in the 2025 assembly elections, a BJP leader is expected to take over the top post.
If that happens, Bihar will get its first BJP chief minister -- the only Hindi heartland state where the party has not held the office so far.
Five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar will go to the polls on March 16, and Thursday is the last day for filing nominations.
Kumar's election to the Upper House of Parliament is all but certain, as per the tally in the state legislature.
