The Delhi High Court on 17 February has issued notice to the Centre, Delhi Police, and CBI, seeking their response in a plea filed by the Advocate ML Sharma, which sought for a court-monitored probe into the alleged mass molestation at Gargi College in Delhi on 6 February.
A division bench comprising of Justices G.S. Sistani and C. Hari Shankar was hearing a plea filed an advocate M L Sharma seeking directions for a CBI inquiry in the case of molestation of female students by outsiders at Delhi University’s all-women Gargi College on 6 February. The court thus issued notice to the Centre, Delhi Police as well as the CBI seeking their response on the plea.
“This is an organized & planned crime by a group of peoples supported fully financially and other resources. It amounts to mass rape and sexual assault to the girl students of Gargi College campus,” stated the petition.
Citing to the posts of the students on their social media websites and media interviews, Sharma mentioned to the court that “it appears that the college administration, as well as the police personnel deployed at the venue failed to take any action.” Sharma has further sought for to the probe agency to seize all the video recordings and CCTV camera footage of the college campus, expressing his concern of tampering the electronic evidence.
Meanwhile, the Standing Counsel for the Delhi Police, Rahul Mehta informed the Court that Investigation in the case was ongoing.
As per sources, on 6 February, a group of men broke into Gargi College during the ‘Riverie’ fest and allegedly groped, harassed and molested the attendees. The incident came to light when the students took to social media to narrate their ordeal and alleged that the security personnel did nothing to control the unruly groups. Reportedly, the accused jumped over the barricades placed by the college security staff, outnumbered them and then misbehaved with the women students.
Earlier, on 13 February, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the petition stating to have an advantage of Delhi High Court’s view in the matter and directed the petitioner to first approach the HC.
The next hearing of the matter has been scheduled on 30 April.
