New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a report from its secretary general as to why a letter written by the Unnao rape victim to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, apprehending threat to her life, was not placed before him.
"Unfortunately, the letter is yet to see the light of the day and yet the newspapers flashed it as if I have read the letter," Justice Gogoi said.
The observations came when senior lawyer V Giri, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae in child rape cases, sought urgent listing of the Unnao rape case.
The court also asked the Uttar Pradesh authorities to file a status report by Thursday on the accident of the Unnao rape case victim.
The 19-year-old woman, who was allegedly raped two years ago by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar at his residence in Unnao, was critically injured in a car crash on Sunday.
She was travelling with her family when their car was hit by a speeding truck in the northern state's Rae Bareli district.
Two of her family members were killed in the accident while her lawyer also sustained serious injuries. The woman's family has filed a complaint alleging "conspiracy" behind the car crash.
CBI books BJP MLA Sengar, 10 others in Unnao case
The CBI has booked BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar and 10 other under murder charges in the accident case of Unnao rape survivor, officials said.
According to the normal procedure, the CBI has taken over investigation in the accident case from Uttar Pradesh re-registering its FIR.
The agency has also alerted its officials, who may visit the accident site and take details from police officials of Gurubakshganj Police Station in Rae Bareli where the accident took place, they said.
On Tuesday, the Centre has handed over the probe to the CBI on the recommendation of the Uttar Pradesh government which had come under severe criticism for failing to provide security to the girl who has alleged that the BJP MLA had raped her.
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday filed a murder case against Sengar and nine others after the rape survivor's family filed a complaint, alleging conspiracy behind the accident.
Unnao rape victim, undergoing treatment after accident, stable: doctors
The condition of the Unnao-rape survivor and her lawyer, undergoing treatment at the King George Medical University hospital in Lucknow after getting critically injured in a road accident, is stable, said doctors on Tuesday.
"The rape survivor has sustained multiple fractures. A CT scan was conducted on her. It revealed no head injury. Her condition is stable and doctors are monitoring her situation round the clock." KGMU's Trauma Centre in-charge, Dr Sandeep Tiwari Tuesday told PTI.
The victim, however, is still on a ventilator, he added.
Asked about her lawyer's condition, Dr Tiwari said the advocate was removed from the ventilator for sometime on Tuesday during which his condition remained stable.
"He was, however, put again on the ventilator," he added. Asked if the KGMU intended to call in specialist doctors from other hospitals, Dr Tiwari said, "There is no shortage of specialists in KGMU. If needed, we can, however, call doctors from other hospitals of Lucknow."
Survivor's aunt cremated amid security
The mortal remains of Pushpa Singh, aunt of the Unnao rape survivor, were consigned to flames at Misra Ghat on Wednesday by her husband Mahesh Singh. The last rites were conducted amidst tight security and in the presence of district officials.
Mahesh Singh, who is lodged in Rae Bareli jail, performed the last rites. His one-day parole ends at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
The rape survivor's maternal aunt, who also died in the car crash on Sunday, was cremated at her home in Barabanki.
Security has also been tightened outside the rape survivor's house in Unnao.