Disha rape accused encounter: TS govt asked to submit evidence on Aug 21

Four accused in the rape and murder of Disha were killed by the Cyberabad police in an encounter at Chatanpally in Rangareddy District in December 2019. The Commission has completed the collection of records. It is entering into the evidence recording phase.

The Commission will also examine 18 witnesses on August 26, 27 and 28. The hearings are open to the public, an official release issued by District Judge and Secretary S. Sasidhar Reddy said. A total of 1333 affidavits from the general public and 103 affidavits from the police officials, government officials, witnesses, and doctors have been received.

The voluminous record of the investigation by the SIT, CDRs, medical reports, forensic and ballistic reports, and other records were also collected.

The Commission held 16 virtual hearings and passed orders in 24 applications filed by the police officials involved in the Incident. Hearings were also held on questions of procedure. The Commission said the oral evidence of witnesses has to be recorded.

The Commission has said considering the gravity of the issue and the sensitive nature of the evidence, it is of the opinion that the witnesses have to be examined in person.

However COVID - 19 pandemic has made it difficult to conduct physical hearings at Hyderabad. Telangana high court has functioned virtually till recently and the trial courts were directed to conduct hearings in a very restricted manner. Even now high court and trial courts are functioning in a restricted manner.

The Commission has resolved to commence hearings in a hybrid form wherein, some witnesses will be examined in person and some will be questioned in the virtual form.

However, all the witnesses have been served with the notices under Section 8B of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. All other persons and advocates shall have to appear before the Commission physically at Hyderabad.