Honour killing: Court allows lie-detector test

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Thursday allowed the police to conduct a lie-detector test on the family members of Sahibabad girl Monika Dagar, who was allegedly killed for honour for marrying against the wishes of her family.

A bench headed by Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Ajit Bharihoke said the CBI should take expeditious steps to conduct the test as urged by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

The police informed the court that it had arrested Monica’s brother Nitin on Dec 19 last year and investigation in the case is going on.

The court was also informed by the police that the victim’s mother and two uncles have also moved an application before a magistrate for surrendering, which is pending.

The court asked the police to file a status report by March 19.

The bench had on November 17 last year sought the response of UP police and the Uttar Pradesh home secretary as to why a murder charge was not framed against the victim’s family members as the case prima facie seemed be of honour killing.

Earlier, the Sahibabad police had registered a kidnapping case on a complaint by Monika’s brother.

The police had later recovered the girl from her husband Gaurav Saini’s house in the national capital and arrested him. After getting her medically examined and recording her statement before a magistrate, the police had handed over Monika to her mother and brother despite the fact that she was a major.

Saini moved the high court after being granted bail. On his petition, the court had asked the Sahibabad Police to produce the girl.

However, on the very next day of the court direction, the girl died and was cremated the following day without an an autopsy being conducted.