Hadiya with Shafeen Jahan | Photo: ScreengrabNew Delhi/ Kochi: Former Supreme Court judge R.V. Raveendran has recused himself from supervising the Hadiya case probe to be conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Kollam native Shafin Jahan, whose marriage with Hadiya from Vaikom had sparked a row, will approach the apex court seeking withdrawal of the order for an NIA probe into issues linked to the marriage.
The probe agency had registered a first information report (FIR) and had contended in the court on August 16 that Hadiya was forcibly converted before her marriage, and that this was part of a wider pattern of forcing girls into such marriages. The agency argued that there were three cases of conversion involving the accused and that a High Court order had linked them to an organization.
The Supreme Court order for NIA investigation came in response to Shafin Jahan's appeal against a High Court order that annulled his marriage with Hadiya.
Justice Raveendran was nominated to supervise the investigation in a bid to ensure fairness. As he has decided to keep off, the NIA has hit a roadblock. However, NIA sources indicated that the probe would proceed without such supervision.
Justice Raveendran's exit has been conveyed to the NIA branch in Kochi, which is in charge of the Hadiya case.
P. Vikram, superintendent of police, is leading the probe and is set to record evidence from Hadiya's parents and friends soon.
Shafin Jahan's lawyer Harris Beeran said an appeal would be filed next week. Apart from seeking withdrawal of the NIA probe, the defense will ask the court to order that Hadiya be produced in the court.
He said information available from those who had met Hadiya recently and those who had sought to meet her proved that she was in house arrest. The lawyer said the court would be requested to consider this also.
Women booked for trying to enter Hadiya's house
Vaikom: Police have filed a case against a man and six women over their attempt to force themselves into the house of Hadiya alias Akhila, who is under court-ordered police protection at TV Puram.
While Faisal of Edathumparambil, Mundakkayam, has been taken into custody, his wife Shabna and five other women from different parts of the state have been charged.
The attempt was made on Wednesday in front of Hadiya's (Akhila) house. The women told Akhila's father K.M. Ashokan that they have come to offer clothes and books as Onam gifts to her, and sought to meet her. Ashokan declined the gifts, saying he doesn't need their favor, and asked them to leave.
The women then tried to stage a protest in front of the house. The police who arrived at the spot took them away, and claimed that the women are part of a social media fraternity. A case was registered based in Ashokan's complaint.
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