Mitali Palnitkar
Published on: March 14, 2022 at 18:42 IST
The Calcutta High Court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to complete Investigation with respect to the Death of Student Activist Anis Khan within one month without any delay.
Earlier, the Court took Suo Moto Cognizance of the Case after terming the incident as ‘Grave and Shocking’. Khan was found dead at his home in Howrah district during early hours of February 19, 2022 (Saturday) under mysterious circumstances.
A prayer for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had been turned down by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha earlier. However, he had allowed the Special Investigation Team appointed by the State-Government to continue with its Probe.
The Court had ordered Special Investigation Team to conduct second Post-Mortem under the Supervision of Howrah District Judge. It had also Ordered that a copy of Report submitted by Special Investigation Team shall be served to the Counsel representing the Petitioner.
Justice Mantha said that after the Probe by Special Investigation Team, the Court would take a decision as to whether the Investigation is to be handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation. It was emphasized that the Probe shall be conducted in an Impartial Manner.
Further, the Court directed that the Forensic Report prepared after the examination of Mobile Phone of the Deceased shall be submitted within one week.
The Matter is listed for further Hearing on April 17, 2022.
Khan’s Murder led to Student Protests at the Aliah University of Kolkata where he was enrolled in a five-year-long Master of Business Administration Course. He had played a significant role in 137-day-long Student Protest against the Policies of State Government.
It is Alleged that four persons had come to Khan’s house on Friday (February 18, 2022) wearing the Uniforms of Police and Civic Volunteers. His father claimed that Khan was pushed off from the third floor of their house. Khan’s family has been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation Probe into the death.
Police of West Bengal had constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team to Probe into the death of Khan. The team is led by Additional Director General of Police of Crime Investigation Department Gyanwant Singh.
Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee had directed to constitute Special Investigation Team after the Student Protests.
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