Nun rape case: SC tells Orissa govt to file counter affidavit

New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) The Orissa Government today submitted before the Supreme Court that the petitioner, who is seeking a CBI investigation in the Kandhamal nun rape case, should be directed to place on record some reliable and concrete evidence to substantiate his allegations.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam, however, granted time to the Orissa Government to file a counter affidavit to the petition till October 21.

Earlier, senior counsel K K Venugopal, appearing for Orissa, pleaded that the State Government should be permitted to file the counter affidavit.

Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath, who earlier filed a petition seeking directions to the authorities to provide adequate security to tribal Christians in Kandhamal district of the State which was rocked by the ethnic violence following the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four others on August 23, moved an application seeking the CBI probe into the alleged rape of the nun by the Bajrang Dal activists.

Orissa police, however, denied the allegations of the involvement of the Bajrang Dal in the rape of the nun, who was also allegedly paraded naked in public.

According to the petitioner, the State Government was not providing adequate protection to the victims of communal violence.

The victims were not safe even in relief camp and 27 people had already been killed in the violence.

The Archbishop sought directions to the State Government not to permit VHP leader Praveen Togadia to take out a procession with the ashes of the slain Swami.

The apex court will hear the case on Tuesday next, dated October 21.

According to the petitioner, the State police was trying to shield the real culprit responsible for the gang rape and humiliation of the nun.

UNI SC SW RP DS1335