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JHARKHAND HC ORDERS SIT PROBE INTO DHANBAD JUDGE DEATH CASE

The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday ordered an SIT probe into the death of Dhanbad Additional District Judge (ADJ) Uttam Anand. Taking cognisance of a letter filed before the court by the Dhanbad Principal District Judge in the case, Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team, under the leadership of […]

The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday ordered an SIT probe into the death of Dhanbad Additional District Judge (ADJ) Uttam Anand. Taking cognisance of a letter filed before the court by the Dhanbad Principal District Judge in the case, Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team, under the leadership of Additional Director General of Police Sanjay Latkar, to look into the matter.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Ranjan expressed his displeasure over the delay in the registration of FIR following the incident. If at any point in time it appears to the court that the investigation is not heading in the right direction, then the case will be handed over to the CBI.

Speaking to media, Amol Vinukant Homkar, IG said that an FIR has been registered under section 302 of the IPC (murder). “SIT, being headed by City Superintendents of Police (SP) Dhanbad, has been formed. Crime Investigation Department (CID) and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team have also been deputed to help them in the investigation. The probe is on under the supervision of Sr SP Dhanbad and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Bokaro,” he added

“For further investigation, an SIT has been formed under the leadership of Additional Director General of Police (ADG) (Ops) Sanjay Anand Lathkar. Further investigation will be done carefully. Action will be taken as per the further facts that come up,” added Homkar.

“Based on facts that came up during investigation and CCTV footage, two people and auto involved in the crime were identified. Two people — Lakhan Kumar Verma and Rahul Verma have been arrested and the auto has also been seized from their possession, he added

During the day the Senior advocate Vikas Singh, who is also the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), mentioned this matter and said that this is a “brazen attack” on the independence of the judiciary.

A bench of Chief Justice N. V. Ramana and Justice Surya Kant told Vikas Singh that “we are aware of the incident and appreciate the efforts of SCBA. I have spoken to the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. He has taken up the case and has asked the officers to be present there. The matter is going on there. Leave it there.”

According to the police, Judge Uttam Anand was taking a morning walk when a vehicle crushed him near the Magistrate Colony in Dhanbad. He was admitted to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, said the police.

As per the police, initially, the body could not be identified. However, later, Anand’s family approached the police following which the body was identified.

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