India's image suffering globally, Bombay High Court worries
India's image suffering globally, Bombay High Court worries
The Bombay High Court, while hearing a clutch of petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the murder of rationalists Dr Narendra Dabholkar and Dr Govind Pansare, on Thursday expressed concern over the international perception generated by such acts of violence assaulting the country. A division bench of Justices SC Dharmadhikari and Bharati Dangre, while also mentioning the brutal Unnao and Kathua rape cases which have garnered global attention and sparked national outrage, observed, "This kind of environment affects our social and cultural life. If we act in this manner, then nobody will like to talk to us. And we will not be able to express our talent on the international forum." The court also conveyed impatience with the slow-moving investigations into the killings. After perusing the probe reports submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Special Investigation Team, the court admonished the agencies to take help, if needed from psychology experts, to question the accused and get leads on the absconding suspects. "When will the investigations be complete? Will this case be taken to its logical end? It's been over five years since the crime was committed," the bench said. The court asked the investigators to "be smarter than the wanted accused". "It is unfortunate that there is no headway. Investigating officers should be smarter. Use modern technology to track them," the bench said, posting the matter for further hearing on June 28.