RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.2: Jharkhand High Court today deferred the hearing in a matter related to Sapphire International School campus murder case.
The case, which was listed for hearing in the court of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi today, will now be heard on December 23.
The development took place after AAG appearing on behalf of state sought two weeks more time to fire supplementary counter affidavit in the petition in accordance with the high court direction of October 7 this year.
The AAG filed an interlocutory application signed by senior superintendent of police (SSP) Surendra Kumar Jha to seek time in the matter.
Earlier the matter was heard on November 27. During the hearing, the HC had given a last opportunity to police to file a supplementary counter affidavit.
Justice Dwivedi had taken a strong exception for the delay in filing of supplementary counter affidavit in the case and was inclined to call DGP in person in the matter to explain the reason behind the delay. But advocate Manoj Kumar, appearing on behalf of state, prayed for a last opportunity saying the advocate earlier appearing in this case has resigned. The court gave him last opportunity and fixed the next date for hearing in the case, December 2.
The petition has been filed by the deceased’s father, Manbahal Mahto, who knocked the court in 2018 for proper probe in the matter after he noticed two children in conflict of law in the case were being acquitted from Juvenile Justice Board and two adult accused out on bail. Apart from this, he also realised that police have left several loopholes in the investigation that are not going to ensure justice to his son.
On the intervening night of February 4 and 5 (officially February 5), 2016 a class VII student of Sapphire International School, Binay Mahto, was murdered in the school campus when preparation was on the campus for annual day celebration.
