Social activist writes to CJI, seeks fresh investigation in rape case against BSP MP

Social activist Yogita Bhayana has sought fresh investigation into the rape charges against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Member of Parliament Atul Rai. In a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana, Bhayana has made the request.

The letter has been written public interest, after the rape victim and a witness self-immolated in front of the Supreme Court on August 16.

Bhayana, who heads a non-governmental organization (NGO) People Against Rape in India (PARI), has appealed to the CJI that the case be investigated by an independent agency, under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

She has sought the investigation of the case either by the Delhi Police or a different agency, as “UP Police has already been proved to be prejudiced and the rape trial will not be free from prejudices in UP which is clear from the trial of incidences”.

The 24-year-old victim, who was a resident of Ballia in Uttar Pradesh and 27-year-old witness in the case, set themselves on fire in front of the Supreme Court seeking justice. The two were admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, where the victim died on August 24 and the witness succumbed to his burns on August 21.

The victim had alleged in her complaint against Rai, that he had raped her in 2019 and that he was blackmailing her using some pornographic videos he has shot of her.

Rai is in judicial custody since the 2019.

 "It is requested that this Court may kindly treat the present representation as PIL and the same may kindly be listed before this Court on judicial side to ensure appropriate and expeditious steps in order to establish justice and order in the society by transferring the rape trial to Delhi and by ensuring the investigating of the case to an independent agency under supervision of this Court to impart justice to the departed souls,"