The bench directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to provide adequate security to one eye witness Zahid Ahmed and ensure his safety.
New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court today ordered a CBI probe into the custodial death of a man who had tried to intervene to settle a quarrel between a couple, saying it is "necessary to instil confidence among the general public as serious allegations are levelled against police personnel".
"In the facts and circumstances of the case and the reasons discussed while concluding it can be said that the investigation is far from fair and independent. Refraining from suggesting that the SIT (of Delhi Police) should or should not have taken such steps to apprehend a person except in accordance with law.
"It is incumbent upon me to transfer the investigation to CBI to instill confidence in general public as serious allegations are levelled against police personnel," a bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul said.
The court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Delhi Police to hand over the case to CBI within one week from today and thereafter the agency should take up the investigation afresh and conclude the same within six weeks.
The bench directed CBI to register a regular case regarding the matter on the basis of FIR already registered and said it expects that all the police authorities will cooperate with the agency in conducting the investigation.
It asked the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Delhi government to take a decision on the application of 28-year-old widow of the victim Shahnawaz Chaudhary to award appropriate compensation to her and her six-month-old baby boy within a month.
The bench directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to provide adequate security to one eye witness Zahid Ahmed and ensure his safety.
The incident had taken place on September 7 at Nand Nagri in north-east Delhi when the victim, Shahnawaz Chaudhary, tried to intervene in a roadside fight between a couple and the police, according to a petition filed by his wife, Rabia.
Mr Chaudhary was picked up and taken to the police station. Later, he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared 'brought dead'.
"In the facts and circumstances of the case and the reasons discussed while concluding it can be said that the investigation is far from fair and independent. Refraining from suggesting that the SIT (of Delhi Police) should or should not have taken such steps to apprehend a person except in accordance with law.
"It is incumbent upon me to transfer the investigation to CBI to instill confidence in general public as serious allegations are levelled against police personnel," a bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul said.
The court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Delhi Police to hand over the case to CBI within one week from today and thereafter the agency should take up the investigation afresh and conclude the same within six weeks.
The bench directed CBI to register a regular case regarding the matter on the basis of FIR already registered and said it expects that all the police authorities will cooperate with the agency in conducting the investigation.
It asked the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Delhi government to take a decision on the application of 28-year-old widow of the victim Shahnawaz Chaudhary to award appropriate compensation to her and her six-month-old baby boy within a month.
The bench directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to provide adequate security to one eye witness Zahid Ahmed and ensure his safety.
The incident had taken place on September 7 at Nand Nagri in north-east Delhi when the victim, Shahnawaz Chaudhary, tried to intervene in a roadside fight between a couple and the police, according to a petition filed by his wife, Rabia.
Mr Chaudhary was picked up and taken to the police station. Later, he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared 'brought dead'.
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