LUCKNOW: The BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, which has been at the receiving end over the Hathras gang-rape incident, on Tuesday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court over the incident, saying that the top court must direct CBI investigation into the matter for "free and fair investigation".

In its affidavit, the Yogi Adityantha government also requested the apex court to monitor the CBI probe into the case, alleging that "vested interests are attempting to ascribe motive to derail a fair probe".

The CBI probe in the Hathras case will ensure no vested interests will be able to create a fake, false narrative with oblique motives, the state government told the top court.

A "vicious campaign" has been unleashed to defame the state government, the affidavit said, explaining in detail the investigation carried out so far in the case.

'Cremated victim at night to avoid large-scale violence'

The affidavit further said that the district administration convinced the parents of the deceased to cremate her in the middle of the night to avoid large-scale violence in the morning, citing intelligence inputs of possible assembly of lakhs of protesters.

The UP government also alleged said the issue is being given caste and communal colour.

The 19-year-old woman, who was allegedly raped in her village by four men on September 14, died at a hospital in Delhi after battling for life for a fortnight, sparking a massive outrage across the country.

The victim’s family alleged that local police forcibly conducted their daughter’s last rites in the dead of the night near their home, an allegation dismissed by them.

Hathras police issued a notice saying the coercion being talked about on social media is a canard. "The family cremated the body with due rituals under the supervision of police and administration," the police notice read.

UP govt under fire over Hathras horror

The UP government that has been facing backlash from various quarters over alleged inaction in the case had two days back recommended a CBI probe into the incident.

It had earlier suspended Hathras SP and four other policemen over their handling of the incident based on the preliminary report submitted by the SIT probing the case.

Last week, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had hit out at the opposition saying it is trying to instigate on the basis of caste and fuelling caste riots in Uttar Pradesh.