CBI asked to pay Rs. 15 lakh for shoddy probe
The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has directed the CBI director to pay Rs. 15 lakh to the father of a deceased MBA student for carrying out a shoddy probe into his mysterious death and thus delaying swift delivery of justice. The MSHRC said that the father had been waiting for justice for seven years, and questioned the credibility of the CBI investigators.
The deceased's father had challenged the CBI's findings
The MSHRC's direction came after Vijay Singh, the father of deceased MBA student Santosh Singh, filed a complaint before the Panvel magistrate court challenging the CBI's conclusion that Santosh had committed suicide. Santosh, who lived on the 4th floor of a building in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, with his friends, was mysteriously found dead on the first floor balcony on July 15th, 2011.
Santosh Singh's mysterious death
Acting on a statement by one of Santosh's friends which said that Santosh had consumed alcohol and committed suicide, the Kharghar police had registered an accidental death report. However, in 2012, Vijay moved the Bombay HC seeking a probe and the CID took over the case. Unsatisfied with the CID's work, Vijay approached the court again 2013, following which the CBI took over.
Panvel magistrate court rejects the CBI's closure report
In 2017, the CBI filed a closure report at the Panvel magistrate court stating that Santosh had committed suicide. However, Magistrate J M Chavan rejected the CBI's closure report citing inconsistencies regarding Santosh's alleged consumption of alcohol and other issues with the medical report including time of death. The court held that evidence showed that Santosh had been killed and thrown off the balcony.
Panvel magistrate court slams CBI for ignoring circumstantial evidence
Additionally, the court charged the CBI with trying to save the accused - Santosh's flatmates Vikas Kumar, Jitendra Kumar and Dheeraj Kumar. "Material showed that the investigation was not proper, and it was done in a manner to save the accused," said the court slamming the CBI for ignoring circumstantial evidence which indicated murder. The three accused are now in judicial custody.
