IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD, J.
Usha Sharma W/o Late Dr. Kumar Sharad Chandra – Petitioner
Versus
The State of Bihar – Respondent
Criminal Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 130 of 2017
Decided On : 19-10-2022
Investigation - Criminal Procedure Code - Sections 302/34/120B IPC, Section 27 of the Arms Act - The court considered the conduct of the Investigating Agency in the investigation of the case and the release of the accused on personal bond despite the cancellation of their anticipatory bail by the Supreme Court. The court found that the investigation had been pending for eight years without progress and required consideration for transfer to an independent agency. The court also highlighted the need for court-monitored investigation and referred to legal principles emphasizing fair investigation and protection of citizens' rights.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner's husband was shot dead, and the petitioner alleged involvement of certain individuals in a conspiracy to kill her husband. The investigation, initially handled by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), was pending for eight years without progress. The petitioner raised concerns about the conduct of the Investigating Officer (I.O.) and the release of the accused on personal bond despite the cancellation of their anticipatory bail by the Supreme Court.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the conduct of the Investigating Agency and the release of the accused on personal bond required consideration. It also concluded that the case warranted a court-monitored investigation and highlighted the need for transfer to an independent agency.
Issues: The issues involved the conduct of the Investigating Agency, the release of the accused on personal bond, the pending investigation, and the petitioner's concerns about the case not being properly investigated.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized the need for fair investigation and protection of citizens' rights, citing legal principles that highlighted the duty of the police to investigate in accordance with the law and the court's obligation to ensure proper enforcement of criminal law.
Final Decision: The court directed the Additional Director General of Police, CID, and the I.O. to be present with all materials collected so far to show the progress in the investigation and explain why the case should not be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation. It also added the Central Bureau of Investigation as a party respondent and scheduled the next hearing for further consideration.
ORDER :
1. Pursuant to the order dated 18.10.2022 passed by this Court, the ADG, CID and the I.O. of the case being Lakhisarai P.S. Case No. 443 of 2014 registered for the offences alleged under Sections 302/34/120B IPC read with Section 27 of the Arms Act are present with the records including the case diary.
2. Mr. Md. Nadim Seraj, learned GP-5 represents the State and on instruction from ADG, CID he has assisted this Court. Mr. Amit Narayan, learned Advocate for the petitioner, Mr. Ajay Kumar Thakur assisted by Dr. Anjani Prasad Singh, learned Advocate for Respondent No. 6 and Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Singh, learned Advocate for Respondent nos. 7 and 8 have been heard.
3. On 18.10.2022, after hearing learned counsel for the parties and the State, this Court formed a prima-facie opinion that:
(2) the fact that the CID has kept the investigation of the case pending with it for eight years and there is no whisper in the counter affidavit explaining the reasons for the huge and inordinate delay in conduct of investigation in a murder case, the grievance of the petitioner that the case is not being properly investigated and she has lost confidence in the investigating agency requires consideration.
4. For a ready reference, the order dated 18.10.2022 is being reproduced hereunder:
The facts of the case as revealed in the First Information Report are that when the husband of the petitioner was sitting at the varandah of his house, he was shot dead by a person who was holding pistol in his hand. This petitioner is an eye-witness to the alleged occurrence. In her written complaint to police, she has specifically alleged that in the year 2009 August, one Anil Sharma, M.D. Amrapagali Group with the help of the other named accused persons including private respondent nos. 6 to 8 in the present writ application had taken control of the trust and had forcibly removed her father who was Secretary of the trust, whereafter disputes were going on and in relation to those disputes records were available in the police station. It is alleged that the entire income of Balika Vidyapith were unlawfully taken into control of two persons namely, Dr. Praveen Sinha and Dr. Shyam Sundar Singh. A specific allegation is that at their instance on previous occasions in the campus of the school firings were done and her husband and other officers were being threatened regularly. Her husband was being asked to leave Lakhisarai failing which he would have to face dire consequences. It is stated that to weaken the case lodged by her husband against unauthorized opening of account of the Trust and on finding that during his lifetime it would not be possible for the accused persons to take complete control of the Trust, the husband of the petitioner was threatened on 31.07.2014 and it was told by one employee Shri Radhe Shyam Singh that her husband
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