The apex court on Tuesday (August 21) sought a response from the Jammu & Kashmir government on a plea filed by a key witness, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan in the Kathua rape-murder alleging that he was being framed and tortured by the state police.

The counsel appearing for the J&K government sought some time to file affidavit to which he was granted time.

During the course of proceedings, the bench comprising CJI Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud was informed by the petitioner’s counsel Indira Jaising that the petitioner is in police custody and is being mercilessly tortured.

—India Legal Bureau