Supreme Court takes cognisance of threats to 14-year-old girl in CJP protest case
The Supreme Court has taken serious note of allegations that a 14-year-old girl, who was part of student protests linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demonstrations in July, was threatened and her home was pelted with stones. A bench led by Chief Justice Surat Kant has sought status reports from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi authorities.
During hearings on the student protest matter, a lawyer raised the case of a person named Swatantri Bhardwaj, who claimed in a podcast to have assaulted the girl's father. Although Delhi Police later arrested Bhardwaj following CJP protests, the girl and her family now face intimidation. The lawyer presented video evidence of stone-pelting at the girl's house and alleged that no action is being taken against those involved in the attack, while an FIR has been registered against the girl and her family instead.
Chief Justice Surat Kant remarked that a child must be protected and that if anti-social elements have committed violence against the girl and remain free while intimidating her, it constitutes a serious matter.
