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2026:CGHC:6175-DB

NAFR

HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR

WPCR No. 72 of 2026

• Dhruw Kumar Pradhan S/o Pyari Lal Pradhan, Aged About 55

Years, R/o Deendayal Puram, Phase-2, Chhote Attarmuda, Raigarh,

Tahsil and District Raigarh (C.G.)

... Petitioner

versus

1 - State of Chhattisgarh Through the Secretary, Ministry of Home,

Mahanadi Bhawan, Mantralaya, Naya Raipur, District Raipur (C.G.)

2 - The Superintendent of Police, Raigarh, District - Raigarh (C.G.)

3 - The Station House Officer, Police Station - City Kotwali, Raigarh,

District - Raigarh (C.G.)

... Respondents

DMAAiOg DiHt Ia LAl MKy HMsi AgENnDed by

D11a:t2e0: :20022 +6.00523.006

(Cause-title taken from Case Information System)

For Petitioner : Mr. Hari Agrawal, Advocate.

For Respondents-State : Mr. S.S. Baghel, Govt. Advocate.

Hon'ble Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice

Hon'ble Shri Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Judge

Order on Board

Per Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice

04-02-2026

1. Heard Mr. Hari Agrawal, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also

heard Mr. S.S. Baghel, learned Government Advocate for the

State/respondents No. 1 to 3.

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2. The present petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India

has been filed by the petitioner seeking the following relief(s):-

“a. A writ and / or an order in the nature of

appropriate writ do issue directing the

respondent authorities to conclude the inquiry

initiated pursuant to the untimely death of the

petitioner’s son who had died on 18.08.2025,

under mysterious/suspicious circumstances and

particularly the viscera/FSL report which has not

been submitted for the past five months be

directed to be obtained & submitted within a time

framed fixed by this Hon’ble Court.

b. Any other relief which this Hon’ble Court may

deem fit in the facts and circumstances of case.

c. Cost of the petition may also be awarded.”

3. The petitioner is father of deceased Sushant Pradhan. On

18.08.2025 dead body of deceased Sushant Pradhan was found

in Kelo Dam, Raigarh and merg intimation was recorded by City

Kotwali, Raigarh police vide Merg No.56/2025. The petitioner had

made a complaint that on 18.08.2025 at about 11.00 a.m. when

the deceased was missing he came to know that his son Sushant

Pradhan had gone to visit Kelo Dam along with his friends

Mulendra Singh Sisodiya and Avinash Sarthi, but his whereabouts

were missing thereafter. After recovery of dead body of the

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deceased it was sent for postmortem and the doctor has opined

that cause of death can be ascertained after submission of FSL

examination report, however, postmortem finding are consistent

with death due to drowning. The grievance of the petitioner is that

the police authorities have not inquired the matter properly and till

date the investigation has not been concluded and no FSL report

has been obtained by the police. Therefore, police authorities may

be directed to conclude the merg inquiry as early as possible.

4. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State on instruction

would submit that police is inquiring into the matter with due

process of inquiry.

5. We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the

documents annexed with the petition.

6. Considering the submissions made by learned counsel for the

parties, considering the grievance of the petitioner that his son is

found dead in Kelo Dam and merg intimation was lodged on

18.08.2025 and till date merg inquiry could not be concluded for

want of FSL report or other reasons, we deem it appropriate to

direct the respondent-police authorities to conclude the merg

inquiry/investigation within eight weeks from the date of receipt of

FSL/viscera report from the concerned FSL. The police authorities

shall make all their endeavour to collect the FSL/viscera report

expeditiously from the concerned FSL.

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7. With the aforesaid observation and directions, the present petition

stands disposed of

8. Copy of this order shall be forwarded through State counsel to the

concerned Superintendent of Police within a week from today.

Sd/- Sd/-

(Ravindra Kumar Agrawal) (Rame