[News18] "Give us one good reason": Delhi High Court dismisses plea seeking transfer of Investigation to CBI In Shraddha Murder Case

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking direction for the transfer of investigation in the Shraddha Murder case from Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad asked the petitioner, as to what is the purpose of transferring the case. "Give us one good reason", the Court asked.

The bench said, "the parents don't have any grievance and you are a stranger, for the obvious reasons you have filed this petition."

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation plea filed by Advocate Joshini Tuli stating that the investigation by Police cannot be efficiently carried out due to administrative/staff paucity, and lack of sufficient technical and equipment support to find out the evidence and the witnesses as the incident had taken place about 6 months back.

Advocate Joginder Tuli appearing for the petitioner submitted that let the Delhi Police submit before the court what they have found till now, in other similar cases the police kept on doing left, right, left, right.

To which, Chief Justice Sharma said, "Are you the judge? This PIL deserves a cost, we are dismissing it with cost."

Counsel appearing for the Delhi Police informed the bench that 80% of the investigation is complete, and the parents have no problem. They are making serious allegations against Delhi Police without any research.

It adds that "murder is alleged to have taken place in Delhi and thereafter the body parts have been alleged to have disposed at different places, thus investigation cannot be efficiently be carried by the Delhi Police."

It further submits that the plea alleged that the crime scenes and scene of recoveries are being contaminated by public persons and media personnel on a daily basis due to the unfiltered disclosure of information by the Delhi Police.

The plea further states that the Delhi Police has revealed each and every minute detail of the investigation to the media and public, which has hampered the sensitive evidence and witnesses in the present case.

It may be noted that in the alleged brutal murder case of Shraddha, a Delhi Court has allowed 5 day Police Custody Remand to the Delhi Police and they are reportedly going to take the accused to Aftab Poonawala to different states including Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra for further investigation.

Case Title: Joshini Tuli Vs. State of NCT of Delhi & Ors