M A I N   N E W S

CBI to probe Malerkotla boy’s death, says HC
Tribune News Service

Court directive The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Punjab police to hand over the case records to the CBI within three weeks Arti, mother of deceased Vidhu Jain, had alleged that her son was burnt by five youngsters of Malerkotla town in broad daylight She also alleged that the investigation agencies in Punjab did nothing to arrest the culprits

Chandigarh, November 29
Nearly a year after Malerkotla boy Vidhu Jain was burnt to death, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered a CBI probe into the incident. Justice Jitendra Chauhan also directed the Punjab police to hand over the case records to the CBI within three weeks.

Initially, the premier investigation agency had claimed that the matter did not have inter-state or transnational ramifications so as to warrant an investigation by it. Punjab too had expressed its inability to carry on with the probe.

Justice Chauhan, on the previous date of hearing, had said Punjab cannot be allowed to wash its hands of the case by requesting a CBI probe.

The assertion came after Justice Chauhan observed there was nothing on record to suggest “factors or the deficiencies with Punjab, as to why, the investigation cannot be carried out successfully in the instant case”.

Justice Chauhan had said the request to entrust the investigation to the CBI was considered and deliberated by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs with the CBI, which claimed that the matter did not have inter-state or transnational ramifications so as to warrant the CBI investigation. Consequently, the Punjab Government’s request for investigation by the CBI was not accepted.

Justice Chauhan also called for the filing of a “detailed reply stating the precise reasons or the incapacity of state of Punjab for not carrying out the investigation”.

Seeking directions for a time-bound CBI inquiry into the entire matter under the supervision of a retired high court judge for speedy justice, Vidhu’s mother Arti Jain had earlier sought protection of life and liberty for 2,500 members of the Jain community living in Malerkotla area, as they were allegedly targeted by a particular community.

She had alleged that her son was burnt by five youngsters of Malerkotla town in broad daylight, but the investigation agencies in Punjab did nothing to arrest the culprits. She had also sought direction to probe the alleged shoddy investigation done by the police, which ultimately helped the accused.

She told the court that her son could have been saved, had the cops taken him to the hospital for timely medical aid. But instead of taking him to hospital, they were busy in making video of the incident.

She also declared that Rs 25 lakh compensation announced by the Punjab Government for the family should be distributed as reward among officers, who fairly investigate the matter.