Sanya editing[Mainpuri student death case] Former principal of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya arrested: UP Police informs Allahabad HC

In the death case of 16-year-old girl from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh who was found dead in suspicious condition on September 16, 2019, inside the school, the State Government recently apprised the Allahabad High Court that the principal of the school has been taken into custody.

The matter was heard before the bench comprising Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Piyush Agrawal. An affidavit was filed on behalf of the state government that stated that the headmistress of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya has been arrested by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The matter dates back to September 17, 2019, when Mainpuri police filed a case of murder and attempt to rape against three persons after the 16-year-old student was found hanging in a suspicious manner in her hostel room a day before.

Although the police had initially claimed that it was a case of suicide, the 16-year old's mother, on the other hand, had alleged that she was harassed, beaten and assaulted, and thereafter hanged.

The three persons named in the case were the school’s principal, the hostel warden, and one of the victim’s classmates. The girl’s family alleged that a student had attempted to rape the girl and kill her. The police had, on the contrary, denied the sexual assault allegation claiming that the girl hanged herself.

During the hearing on September 16, the court had asked the Director-General of Police, who appeared in person, to ensure that probes in rape cases in the State are completed within two months in compliance with Section 173 of CrPC.

Court had also directed the DGP to closely monitor the progress of the investigation in the present matter so that it may reach its logical conclusion within a time frame.

The case is being probed by the SIT. However, it is also to be noted that the state government had formed two different SITs within a span of two years after being pulled up by the High Court over the manner of investigation into the case.

During earlier hearings in the matter, on multiple occasions, the court has expressed its clear dissatisfaction with the speed with which the investigation is being carried out.

The first SIT was formed in December 2019 but when that team failed to reach any conclusion, the State formed a new SIT, which is currently investigating the matter.

Case Title: Mahendra Pratap Singh v State Of U.P. Through Secretary (Home) And 2 Others