The apex court on Tuesday stayed a Patna High Court order which had directed formation of new CBI team to probe the Muzaffarpur Sheltar home rape case.

A bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said that the formation of a new team to investigate the matter would affect the investigation and will also harm the interests of the victims.

While staying the matter, the bench said if need arises then it will transfer the matter pending in the Patna High Court to itself and monitor the CBI probe.

The court order came on the plea of CBI challenging the Patna High Court’s August 29 order mandating the constitution of a fresh team of investigators by CBI’s Special Director to probe the case.

The matter will be next heard on Sep 20.

—India Legal Bureau