The Supreme Court set up a three-member inquiry commission today to investigate the recent killing of four Telangana rape and murder suspects in what the police said was an encounter.
The commission will be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, Justice VS Sirpurkar. The two others on the panel are former Bombay High Court judge Rekha Baldota and former CBI chief B Kartikeyan.
They have six months to complete their investigation. The Supreme Court has said no other court or authority should investigate this case until further orders.
Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde told the Telangana government, represented by former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, that aspects of its version of events needed inquiry.
Last week, the Telangana police said they killed the four suspects -- all lorry workers in their twenties -- when they attacked policemen near the crime scene (near Hyderabad), where they'd been taken to help retrieve the victim's personal belongings.
The police action had its critics, but it was largely welcomed by the public.
"We don't think your trial of nonexistent accused should come in the way of inquiry into what you did."
- Supreme Court to Telangana government
Chief Justice SA Bobde said today that an ongoing investigation by an SIT could continue, but also that the Supreme Court was inclined to appoint a judge to hold a parallel inquiry -- a move opposed by the state government.
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"It's a matter of credibility. We don't think your trial of nonexistent accused should come in the way of inquiry into what you did," the chief justice said.
Chief Justice Bobde said the SIT could give a report to the inquiry committee.