SC stays its direction to set up Hindu-Muslim SIT to probe 2023 Akola communal riots

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed its direction to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities to probe 2023 Akola communal riots.

Issuing notice on the Maharashtra Government’s petition seeking review of the top court’s September 11 judgment, a Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks.

Earlier, a Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma had on November 7 delivered a split verdict on the Maharashtra Government’s petition seeking a review of the court’s direction to set up a Hindu-Muslim SIT to probe 2023 Akola communal riots.

Justice Kumar — who had authored the original September 11 verdict, had