SC bench stays Hindu-Muslim SIT order in Akola riots case

A BENCH OF CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA BHUSHAN R GAVAI AND JUSTICES K VINOD CHANDRAN AND NV ANJARIA STAYED THE SEPT 11 DIRECTION BY SC

- Abraham Thomas

Days after the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on recalling its order directing the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) comprising both Hindu and Muslim police officers from Maharashtra to probe a 2023 communal riot incident in the state's Akola, a larger bench stayed the direction on the state's review plea.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai and justices KVinod Chandran and NV Anjaria stayed the direction issued on September 1l and issued notice on the Maharashtra government's review petition urging the court to have an independent agency probe the case. Posting the matter after four weeks, the court issued notice and said, “In the meantime there shall be stay of the portion of the order directing SIT of Hindu and Muslim police officers in the judgment under review.”