Nagpur, India: The Sessions Court has restarted the hearing for Ritika Malu after the Principal District Judge turned down a request to move the case to a different court. This request was made by Mohammad Atik, a relative of a victim of the February Ram Jhula incident. On Tuesday, Judge S. R. Patil (Bhosle) continued to review the Tehsil police’s request to cancel the bail given to Ritika Malu.

Earlier, the court had paused the hearing after noting the request for a court transfer. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the Principal District Judge had rejected the request, so the court moved forward with the Tehsil police’s plea.

In a previous hearing, Assistant Public Prosecutor Rashmi Khaparde accused Ritika Malu of using an application for CCTV footage of her presence at the Tehsil police station to delay the process. In response, Adv. Chandrashekhar Jaltare pointed out that the police had confirmed Malu’s presence on those dates, so the request for CCTV footage was no longer needed. The court dismissed this application.

The court will next hear the Tehsil police’s request to cancel Malu’s bail and allow her arrest on August 16. Can we hope that the victims will get justice and that Ritika Malu will face consequences for her actions while intoxicated and driving drunk? Will the other key figures assisting Malu in avoiding police custody and her changing statements also be held accountable in this case?