The State Government presented a status report along with investigation documents before a division bench of High Court Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, making it clear that a CBI investigation is not necessary in Mauganj violence case. The court took the State Government’s report on record and directed the petitioner to present his side of the story, setting next hearing after four weeks.

 

The violence against tribal families in Mauganj has been challenged through a public interest litigation. The petitioner, former MLA Sukhendra Singh Banna, a resident of Hanumangarh, Rewa, presented his case. It was argued that land mafia assaulted tribal families in Gadra village of Mauganj to force them to vacate their land. During the violent incident, a massive riot broke out, resulting in the death of an ASI on duty. Subsequently, the mafia killed several tribal people, and three members of the same family were found hanging.

 

The applicant stated that approximately half a dozen people were killed in the violence, while approximately one and a half to two hundred tribal families fled their homes and disappeared and their whereabouts are unknown. Complaints were filed with relevant officials and higher authorities, but no action was taken. Following this, the High Court has been approached seeking a CBI investigation. The Principal Secretary of the Home Department, DGP Rewa,

 

IG Rewa, Collector and SP Mauganj, Secretary of the Central Home Ministry, and the CBI have been named as parties in the case. Following the hearing, the High Court directed the Government to submit a status report. Submitting the report, along with accompanying documents, the Government stated that the allegations made in the petition are baseless. CBI is already overloaded with work, and in such circumstances, a CBI investigation is not necessary.