CBI yet to probe conspiracy angle in Dhanbad judge death case

Ranchi, Aug.27: CBI probing a Dhanbad judge Uttam Anand?s death case today submitted before the court comprising chief justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujeet Narayan that the judge died due to auto rickshaw push but at the same time said that it was yet to be ascertained from its part whether the push was a part of any criminal conspiracy or not.

As the court heard the submission from the CBI side, it directed the investigating agency to probe the conspiracy angle properly and till the probe continues, proper security should be given to accused and for that the court directed to use aeroplanes for the transportation of accused.

The court was of the opinion that if there is any conspiracy there is always the possibility of attack on the accused.

During the hearing, the court was informed that the investigation report of the Narco test has to be brought from New Delhi, on which they directed the probing agency to bring the same by plane as there is also possibility of tampering with the report during transportation by bus or train.

The matter was being heard virtually. During the hearing, home secretary and director of forensic science library were also present in accordance with the direction of Jharkhand High Court given on the last date.

During a previous hearing on August 19, the court had expressed its displeasure over the lack of infrastructure at State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL) to analyse urine and blood samples, on which, FSL director A.K.Bapuly submitted before the court that tender for expansion of the FSL has been floated and as soon as the expansion work will get completed it will be possible for the state to do all forensic tests in the state itself.

On July 28 judge Uttam Anand died after an unidentified auto rickshaw hit him coming from the backside when he was on morning walk outside Magistrate Colony near Randhir Verma Chowk in coal city.

CCTV collected from the spot suggests that the driver of the vehicle intentionally hit the judge who was walking on the extreme left of the deserted road at the time of incident. CCTV footage shows that the vehicle changed lanes and hit the judge going extreme left.

Legal fraternity took strong exception to the incident and suspected it a case of attack on the judicial system. The High Court and Supreme Court both took serious note on the matter. The High Court started monitoring the case. Sensing the gravity of the situation, state police constituted an SIT.

Police swung into action and arrested the driver of the auto rickshaw and seized his vehicle. Driver admitted the crime saying he was drunk. The matter was later given to the CBI for probe.