New Delhi, Jul 24 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Friday extended by six months the time given to the three-member commission to complete its inquiry into the December 2019 Hyderabad encounter case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde heard the submissions of the lawyer appearing for the panel and granted it six-month extension, as was sought. The commission was supposed to submit its report by August 2020.

The commission headed by former Supreme Court judge, Justice V S Sirpurkar, was set up by the apex court to investigate the alleged police encounter of four men accused in the gruesome gang rape and murder of a veterinary doctor.

The commission had sought more time to complete its investigation, pointing out that the circumstances that had arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown "hindered the sittings of the Inquiry Commission as its three members reside in different cities and the place of inquiry is in a wholly different city as well".

The application clarified that the commission's work did not come to a standstill during the ongoing pandemic, as collection of records and documents as well as statements of persons acquainted with the incident continued.

The commission also comprises former Bombay High Court Judge, Justice RP Sondur- Baldota, and former CBI Director DR Kaarthikeyan.