HC shifts case of Tihar inmate’s death to CBI
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday transferred the probe in the alleged custodial killing of 29-year-old Ankit Gujjar on August 4 at Tihar jail to the CBI, saying that he lost his life to “custodial violence in violation of his constitutional rights”.
The judgment comes on a plea by Gujjar’s mother who alleged that her son was harassed by jail officials because he couldn’t meet “increasing demands for money”.
Gujjar died on August 4 after an alleged scuffle with jail officers. Prison officials said they used “minimum force” to contain Gujjar and his two cell mates after they were caught with a cell phone, data cable and a knife. In a report, jail officials also said CCTV cameras were switched off at the time of the scuffle for “maintenance work”, HT reported on September 4.
“Walls of prison, howsoever high they may be, the foundation of a prison is laid on the rule of law...” the court said, transferring the probe.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday transferred the probe in the alleged custodial killing of 29-year-old Ankit Gujjar on August 4 at Tihar jail to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), saying that he lost his life to “custodial violence in violation of his constitutional rights”.
“Consequently, this court deems it fit to transfer the investigation of case FIR No.451/2021 under sections 302/323/341/34 IPC registered at PS Hari Nagar, Delhi to CBI. The case file be transferred to CBI immediately by the concerned police station. A status report will be filed by the concerned SP, CBI after carrying out investigation before this court well before the next date of hearing,” justice Mukta Gupta said.
The judge said that if the allegations of extortion by Gujjar’s family are correct, “it is a very serious offence which requires in-depth investigation”. She said the injuries on Gujjar’s body indicated that he was “brutally beaten” and “left unattended”.
“Walls of prison, howsoever high they may be, the foundation of a prison is laid on the rule of law ensuring the rights to its inmates enshrined in the Constitution of India,” the court said.
The judgment comes on a plea by Gujjar’s mother, Geeta, who sought a CBI probe into the alleged murder of her son.
In her plea, Gujjar’s family contended that he was being harassed by the jail officials as he was “unable to meet their regularly increasing demands for money”, and was murdered “as a part of pre-planned conspiracy”.
The HC judgment came on a plea by Gujjar’s mother, Geeta, who sought a CBI probe into the alleged murder of her son. In her plea, Gujjar’s family said that he was being harassed by the jail officials as he was “unable to meet their regularly increasing demands for money” and was murdered “as part of a preplanned conspiracy”. The gangster’s family have named Tihar deputy superintendent Narendra Meena, three constables, and an assistant superintendent in the FIR. The court will next hear the case on October 28.