Noting that the Haryana Police made all-out efforts to protect the accused, the Supreme Court on Wednesday set up a special investigation team (SIT) comprising three women IPS officers “in order to ensure a fair, dispassionate and independent investigation” into the Gurugram minor’s rape case.The SIT members are Kala Ramachandran, Additional Director General of Police and Director, Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban; Anshu Singla, Superintendent of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Haryana; and Jasleen Kaur, Deputy Commissioner of Police/HQ and Deputy Commissioner of Police/Crime, Jhajjar. The top court asked the SIT to take over the probe “forthwith”.“The manner in which the police authorities, ranging from the Commissioner of Police to Sub-Inspector, have so far investigated the case discloses a concerted and unwarranted attempt to discredit the version of the minor victim and to portray the concerns raised by her parents as exaggerated and unfounded,” a three-judge Bench led by CJI Surya Kant said.Acting on a petition filed by the victim’s parents seeking a CBI/SIT probe into the case, the Bench ordered the Haryana Government to immediately notify the SIT.It directed the Gurugram police to hand over the case records to the SIT by Thursday.The CJI directed that the case shall be handled by a POCSO court presided over by a woman judicial officer and posted the matter for further hearing on April 6.Taking strong exception to the way the family and the child were harassed, the Bench said, “The child went through a more horrifying experience after what happened with her. Repeated victimisation…worst form of disrespect to a victim.”The Bench, which also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi, asked the Gurugram police officers involved in the probe to “show cause why appropriate disciplinary and criminal action should not be taken against them”.The top court said the Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, or other police officers earlier involved in the probe shall be entirely disassociated from the SIT investigation.It asked the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members to explain why they should not be removed for their insensitive handling of the case.The top court also asked Dr Babita Jain of Max Hospital to explain why she changed her report in the case on March 21 after the top court took cognisance of the matter.The over three-year-old girl was allegedly assaulted between December 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026, and the matter came to light on February 2, 2026.“The present case reflects a disturbing pattern wherein the police authorities have made concerted efforts to shield the suspects, relying upon an irresponsible and casual report submitted by the CWC,” the Bench said.Directing the Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, Government of Haryana, to file an affidavit within one week, it said a senior officer of the department shall produce the original records concerning the appointment of the CWC chairpersons and members throughout the state.Commenting on downgrading of the alleged offence from “aggravated penetrative sexual assault” under Section 6 of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, to “aggravated sexual assault” under Section 10 of the Act, the top court said their conduct was “shameful”.It directed that the names of the victim, her parents and her school be redacted from the record of the case to protect her identity.