Indian Army has refused to reply a query relating to the court martial in Machil fake encounter case and Court of Inquiry in Pathribal case.

According to media sources, an RTI was filed by Venkatesh Nayak, Programme Coordinator in Access to Information Programme, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, to get documents relating to court martial in Machil fake encounter case and the Court of Inquiry into the Pathribal case but the PIO of the Indian Army rejected the request invoking section 8(1) (h) – impeding investigation, prosecution or arresting offenders.

Venkatesh Nayak had sought a photocopy of the entire text of findings of the court martial in relation to the conviction of five army personnel in Machil fake encounter case in 2010.

He had also sought a photocopy of the charge sheet filed before the court martial in relation to the case along with a photocopy of the sentence awarded to the convicted troopers.