A bench comprising Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik indicated that the status report should also contain the details pertaining to the alleged role of the local police so that appropriate action against the erring police officers and other culprits can be ordered.
Fourteen farmers were killed and the female members of their families were subjected to sexual assault allegedly by CPM goons in 2007. Kolkata High Court had transferred the investigation to CBI.
The Supreme Court upheld the judgement of the High Court and overruled the objection of the state government that High Court cannot order CBI probe without the prior consent of the state government.
The apex court ruled that High Court has the power to order CBI probe in appropriate cases to ensure free and fair investigation.
Farmers were protesting against the forcible acquisition of their land by the state government for SEZ (Special Economic Zone) projects.