The Free Press Journal

SC ORDER VINDICATES OUR ACTION: NITISH

CBI probe victory of Bihar against Maha: Political parties, police

- LAW KUMAR MISHRA

The Supreme Court order on allowing CBI to investigat­e the mysterious death of filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR) is being hailed as a victory of Bihar against Maharashtr­a by both political parties and police alike. Officers of Rajivnagar police station, where an FIR was lodged by SSR’s father on July 26, flagged a victory sign, claiming Patna police has won against the Maharashtr­a Police.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led the state in welcoming the SC order. In a press release in Patna on Wednesday, the CM said: “Our stand in the SSR case has been vindicated by the SC. We were right in getting an FIR filed at Patna and also right in handing over the probe to CBI. Some people wanted to give our decision a political colour but the state govt believed it was linked to the delivery of justice. Now, the CBI will probe the case soon and speedy justice will be delivered.”

The SSR family thanked the CM for his action in allowing registrati­on of the FIR and later, handing over the case to the CBI.

Neeraj Kumar Babloo, a cousin of SSR and also a BJP MLA, said the entire SSR family was obliged to the CM for acting quickly.

DGP Gupteshwar Pandey described the order as a “victory of the Patna police”. It was because of the CM’s initiative the FIR was lodged here and CBI was asked to take over the probe. Our men were harassed in Mumbai when they went for a probe and an IPS officer was quarantine­d at midnight. Our cops were not disallowed to investigat­e the matter by the Mumbai police. It is victory of the Patna police.”

He also criticised Rhea Chakrabort­y for questionin­g the CM’s action in handing over the case to CBI.

Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said it was the first victory of the Patna police over the Maharashtr­a Police. The Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP troika-led government was engaged in protecting the suspects and plotting to hide the truth.

Informatio­n and Public Relations Minister Neeraj Kumar described the SC order as a victory of the stand taken by the Bihar government over the Maharashtr­a government on investigat­ion.

“This is the first step towards justice,” Neeraj said.

Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav claimed it was because of his initiative the case was handed over to the CBI. He said: “On June 26, he had sent a letter to the CM, seeking a CBI probe. At a joint press conference with Shekhar Suman on June 30, I reiterated my demand for a CBI investigat­ion. But, the CM took 42 days to decide.”

LJP President Chirag Paswan claimed, “It was I who had launched a campaign for justice to SSR, and requested CM Kumar and Home Minister Amit Shah to order a CBI probe. The SC has supported our stand.”

State BJP President Sanjay Jaiswal, former CM Jeetan Ram Manjhi through their statements took credit for the victory of the Bihari pride, claiming they had demanded a CBI probe.

Folk singers and artists, too, joined the “celebratio­ns” and staged street shows, hailing the SC decision, dubbing it a “Victory of Bihar”.

Our stand in the SSR case has been vindicated by the SC. We were right in getting an FIR filed at Patna and also right in handing over the probe to CBI. Some people wanted to give our decision a political colour but the state govt believed it was linked to the deliver y of justice. Now, the CBI will probe the case soon and speedy justice will be delivered. — Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister

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