CHANDIGARH: The plea filed by the two accused involved in the Kathua rape and murder case seeking fresh CBI probe failed to find any favour from the Punjab and Haryana high court, which on Friday declined to entertain their request. The HC also asked the petitioners to approach the Supreme Court.

Both the petitioners have claimed innocence and accused Jammu and Kashmir police for false implication.

The matter has reached before the HC in the wake of a petition filed by two accused, Vishal Jangotra, 19, and his father Sanjhi Ram, a retired revenue officer. Both are presently confined in Gurdaspur jail and facing trial before the district and sessions court, Pathankot .

Jangotra said he is a student of BSc (Agriculture) at Aakanksha College in Meerut and was not even present in Rasana, Kathua when the alleged incident took place.

The petitioner submitted that he had his semester examination from January 9, 2018 to January 27, 2018 followed by practical examinations.

“On January 12, petitioner Vishal was having an exam of fundamental of soil science from 10 am to 1 pm and on January 15, he had appeared for Elements of Genetics examination. The investigating agency has collected the examination sheets but erroneously come to the conclusion that the said sheets were filled in later to create an alibi,” his counsel argued.

The HC was also informed that on January 12 and 15, Jangotra had withdrawn some amount from a local ATM in Meerut and the CCTV footage of examination centre as well as the bank ATM are available.

“What is completely shocking is that no attempt was made to examine the footage available in the Digital Video Recorder (DVRs) from the bank ATMs and examination hall. In fact, prior to filing of chargesheet against Vishal, it was imperative on the part of investigating agency to first examine the plea of alibi and to go through all the necessary footage. Had the investigating agency properly and fairly examined the available footages, it might have come to the conclusion that Vishal was innocent.

Vishal’s father Sanhji Ram who bribed the local policemen to destroy crucial evidence to save the accused, has also claimed innocence.

The counsel argued that the call detail record of Sanjahi Ram does not show any telephonic conversation with any of the official accused.

The conduct of the investigating agency apparently shows biasness against the petitioners and other accused, argued the counsel.

