SC Agrees to Set up New Bench to Hear Review Plea in 2012 Chhawla Gangrape Case

NEW DELHI:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to constitute a three-judge bench to consider a plea of the Delhi Police for review of its verdict acquitting three death row convicts in the gang-rape and murder case of a 19-year-old girl in Delhi’s Chhawla area in 2012.

A bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, that one of the accused acquitted by this court has recently slit a throat of a person.

“What I am saying is that all these accused, who were acquitted are hardened criminals. Therefore, we are seeking review of last year’s verdict”, Mehta said, adding that a three-judge bench headed by the then CJI had pronounced the verdict.

CJI Chandrachud then said it will constitute a bench of himself and Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Bela M Trivedi to hear the review plea.

Mehta then requested the court to accord open court hearing on the review plea. The bench said it is up to the new bench to decide upon an open court hearing plea.”We will see to it, when the new bench takes up the matter”, the CJI said.

The three were acquitted by the court on November 7, last year.