SC indicates panel to probe encounter killings of Vikas Dubey, associates

The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated forming a committee to probe the killings of eight policemen on July 2 in Kanpur and other encounter deaths including that of gangster Vikas Dubey and his gang members by July 10.

Read: UP gangster Vikas Dubey, accused in the killing of 8 cops, shot dead while attempting to flee

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices R Subhash Reddy and A S Bopanna said, "We will do something very similar to the Hyderabad gangrape like forming a committee to probe the encounter".

Read: UP govt forms panel to probe Kanpur ambush, Vikas Dubey's encounter

The court's response came as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, sought time to place the steps taken by the state.

"Allow us to place our view," he said.

Also Read: Suspended UP police SI moves Supreme Court for CBI probe into Vikas Dubey episode

"This is something which the court will do very reluctantly," the bench said, giving the state government time till Thursday to file its response to a couple of PILs for a CBI, or court-monitored investigation into the matter.

The top court put the matter for consideration on July 20.

The court had in December, last had formed an inquiry commission headed by former SC judge, V S Sirpurkar to probe into sensational killings of four suspects of rape and murder of a veterinary doctor.

Read: Vikas Dubey encounter draws parallels with Hyderabad encounter of four accused in rape and murder of a vet

A Mumbai advocate, Ghanshyam Upadhyay filed a plea on the night of July 10, apprehending encounter killing of Dubey, just hours before his death on being taken from Ujjain on his arrest. He also sought independent probe into the entire episode, including encounter killings of Dubey's accomplices by UP Police showing "complete lawlessness".

Read: Hours before Vikas Dubey was shot, PIL filed in SC apprehending his killing

In his separate plea, a Supreme Court advocate, Awasthi also sought probe by the CBI, or the NIA, saying the Rule of law cannot be restored by actions of state machinery as outlaw. He contended that if the trigger-happy attitude of cops was not put under check, it would lead to anarchy. He pointed out life can be taken only by a procedure established by law as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution.

Related: Of power, politics and patronage in the Vikas Dubey case

Terming the encounters killings of six persons allegedly involve in Kanpur incident of July 2 as suspicious in nature, Awasthi said revenge cannot replace justice howsoever grave and instigating the crime may be.

Also Read: Vikas Dubey’s encounter raises doubts

He also raised a question if instant justice delivered by police was permissible in a democratic society governed by rule of law bypassing the criminal justice system. Or if the entire episode was not a ploy to save a selected few by demolishing house of Vikas Dubey and eliminating him and his co-accused and thus closing all chances of breaking vicious nexus of police-criminal-politicians.

Read: An 'encounter' everyone knew about

PUCL, which had earlier questioned encounters in the state between January 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018, also filed a plea, contending that police encounter or administrative liquidation was a serious crime, an offence against the entire society.

Also Read: Why Vikas Dubey won’t be the last to die in police custody

"The incidents, which have been revealed in the killings of the Dubey and his associates, are very shocking in particular, keeping in view continuous cases of mass encounters in the state from January 1, 2017 onwards," it said.

Read: Timeline of UP's Vikas Dubey case

It sought an SIT probe into the encounter of Dubey and his aides by Uttar Pradesh police. It asked the court to constitute a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to enquire into the encounters that have been taking place in Uttar Pradesh and the criminal political nexus, prevailing in the state.