: The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a special investigation team (SIT) probe into the attack on a temple in the walled city , noting that police have already filed three FIRs and investigation was on.
A Bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Hari Shankar also commented on the petitioner wanting the culprits in the case to be arrested overnight, saying his “expectations are too high”.
“The respondents [police and Centre] have already arrested seven persons and another six juveniles are in observation homes. Thus it appears that the respondents are serious,” the Bench said.
The Central government’s standing counsel Anil Soni, appearing for the Ministry of Home Affairs, and counsel for police told the court that CCTV footage was being examined and more arrests may be made.
The Bench, then, said it was absolutely “premature” for the petitioner to approach the court at such early stage of investigation.
“Nothing can be done overnight even by an efficient person or institution. Some breathing time ought to be given… the criminal law has been put into motion and, therefore, we see no reason for setting up a SIT,” the Bench said dismissing the petition by advocate Alakh Alok Shrivastava.
Mr. Shrivastava had sought a SIT probe into the alleged conspiracy behind the attack on the Durga temple on June 30.
The petition said a SIT duly monitored by the court must investigate the attack and identify the real perpetrators of the crime. He prayed for the initiation of stringent action and formulation of suitable guidelines to avoid such attacks on other religious places of worships in future, considering the wider ramifications of such acts in disrupting communal harmony and peace in society.
“The attack on a temple in the national capital has hurt the religious sentiments of crores of people across country...,” the plea claimed.
