Supreme Court allows CBI to probe death of 17-year-old girl in Thanjavur2Photo© india.com

Supreme Court allows CBI to probe death of 17-year-old girl in Thanjavur

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New Delhi, Feb 14: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the CBI to proceed with the probe into the suicide of a 17-year-old girl in Thanjavur who was allegedly coerced to convert to Christianity. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bela M Trivedi issued notice on the appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu DGP challenging the Madras High Court order.

The apex court said there were two aspects in the matter -- one, there are certain observations recorded in the impugned judgment and the second is regarding the final order directing probe by CBI. The court said it might not be appropriate for it to interject in the CBI investigation but it would issue notice on the first aspect. "Issue notice returnable in four weeks. Reply/ counter affidavit will be filed within two weeks.

In the meanwhile, investigation will continue in terms of the impugned order," the bench said. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Tamil Nadu, submitted this was not a case of any other ramifications and it is a case of suicide by poison. "The High Court interferes and day to day orders are passed. A dying declaration is on record. This is not an exceptional case. This is not a case which should reflect on the police of the state.