The Supreme Court Friday dismissed the Maharashtra government’s plea against a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of six people in police firing during the 1992 Mumbai riots. It also directed the agency to complete the probe in six months.
The CBI investigation was ordered by the Bombay High Court.
“We are unable to accept the change of decision by the Maharashtra government,” said the apex court bench of Justices P. Sathasivam and Anil R. Dave in their judgement.
The court made this observation in the wake of the Maharashtra government first agreeing before the high court to hand over the investigation to the CBI and subsequently challenging the same before the Supreme Court.
Writing the judgement, Justice Sathasivam gave the CBI six months to complete the investigation.
Police opened fire to disperse a mob indulging in arson and looting in Hari Masjid area during the riots that followed the Dec 6, 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.
The high court ordered a CBI probe into the firing by Sub-Inspector Nikhil Kapse in which six people were killed within the premises of the mosque.
The Maharashtra government claimed that Kapse fired at the mob on the orders of Deputy Commissioner of Police K.L. Bishnoi.
