Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has decided to file a curative petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a relook at the judgment that acquitted Dashwant in the 2017 rape and murder case of a six-year-old girl near Porur. This decision was communicated by the government before a vacation bench comprising Justice G R Swaminathan and Justice V Lakshminarayanan during the hearing of a petition filed by Madurai-based S Venkatesh.
Background of the Case
Dashwant was arrested in connection with the sexual assault and murder of the six-year-old girl in 2017. A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in Chengalpet district had sentenced him to death, a punishment that was later upheld by the Madras High Court in 2018. However, in October last year, the Supreme Court set aside the death sentence and ordered his release.
Allegations of Misrepresentation
In the present petition before the High Court, Venkatesh alleged that it had been represented before the Supreme Court on behalf of Dashwant that the High Court had granted leave permitting an appeal before the apex court. However, information obtained under the Right to Information Act revealed that no such leave was ever granted by the High Court. The petitioner further claimed that a complaint had already been lodged before the Supreme Court, stating that this amounted to misleading the judiciary and contempt of court. He, therefore, sought a direction to the Tamil Nadu government to file a petition seeking a relook at the acquittal order.
The government's submission to file a curative petition marks a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the victim's family. The case has drawn widespread attention due to the heinous nature of the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings.
