SC Issues Notice To CBI In Plea Seeking Transfer Of Investigation In NLU Student Death Case

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to CBI for an inquiry into the death of National Law University (NLU) student, Vikrant Nagaich, under mysterious circumstances in 2017.

The petitioner herein is the mother of deceased 3^rd year student who being aggrieved by the manner of the investigation conducted by the local police apprehends that the lackadaisical and negligent investigation and prosecution of the instant FIR is a result of probable collusion to shield some high, mighty and influential persons and thus seeks to transfer the investigation from state police to Central Bureau Of Investigation.

The petitioner has alleged that the No charge sheet has been filed to date, and despite substantial evidence given by the Petitioner herein, no effort has been made by the investigating agency to apprehend the offenders, despite a considerable period has been elapsed since the date of the incident. Also, the Investigating agency failed to consider that near the place of occurrence, where the body of the deceased was found is a warehouse, which is manned by a caretaker 24 hours, who despite being on duty on the night of the incident has not been examined till date. On the contrary, the Police in its report have mentioned that he has since retired, and his statement was not required since he was ‘deaf’ and ‘unreliable’. It is, however, unfathomable that a deaf and unreliable person was appointed as the night guard/caretaker of a warehouse, and even without taking his statement, the investigating agency has on its own concluded that the same shall not bear any merit on the investigation.

Acting upon the plea, the bench comprising of Justice R.F. Nariman, Justice Navin Sinha & Justice B.R. Gavai, said that the bench will first ask for a status report on the probe by the local police. The Court said they’ll only hear the state first before considering transfer to see why the investigation hasn’t progressed in the last three years.

The Court has issued notice to CBI and listed the case for further hearing in first week of July, 2020.

-India Legal Bureau