Special Investigation Teams (SITs) formed by Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi are apparently failing to produce the desired results on time. Questions are being raised whether those in the SITs are ‘deliberately’ delaying the final reports of the cases handed over to them for time-bound investigation. This year alone four SITs were constituted by the Delhi Police Commissioner, that include the investigation of Sunanda Pushkar case but the investigating officer (IO) is yet to arrive at a conclusion.
While the Pushkar’s case is being investigated by a team of officials from South districts, Delhi Police Crime Branch officials are investigating East Delhi’s Dilshad Garden church fire and the most controversial farmer’s mysterious death at Jantar Mantar. The recent one is the ‘shootout’ of Manoj Vashisht inside a restaurant at Central Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar by Delhi Police Special Cell. The investigation in this case is being done the Central district police officials under the supervision of Joint CP Central range SK Gautam.
The SIT to investigate Pushkar’s mysterious death was formed in the first week of January, this year. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South, Prem Nath was tasked to head the team but he is yet to reach any conclusion in the case. Pushkar was found dead in a South Delhi’s luxury suite on January 17, 2014. Her husband Shashi Tharoor, who is a sitting Congress MP, was questioned twice by the SIT. After questioning at least 20 people, including Pushkar’s close friends and security staff, the SIT approached FBI in the United States to ascertain the toxic substance in her body. The officials said that her viscera report is still awaited. An officer, who did not wish to be named, said that the viscera can only ascertain the poisonous substance and its quantity. It has nothing to do with nabbing the person who administered the poison orally or injected it. Source said that the murder case was registered on the basis of circumstantial evidence.
Delhi Police Crime Branch’s SIT is investigating two most highlighted cases of the city. The investigation into a fire at St Sebastian’s Church in Dilshad Garden, which the Christian community alleged was ‘deliberate’. This team is led by Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra Yadav. The fire had occurred on intervening night of December 1. The officials in this case too are awaiting forensic reports to arrive at any conclusion. Similarly, the SIT tasked to investigate the tragic death of 41-year-old Gajendra Singh, who allegedly hanged himself to death from a tree at Jantar Mantar on April 22 during an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rally. The SIT led by Special Commissioner of Police Taj Hassan, in its preliminary report has found that Gajendra was instigated to stage a suicide drama at Jantar Mantar. But the SIT officials have not yet called any of the AAP leaders for questioning who had witnessed Gajendra’s death.
The shootout of Manoj Vashisht at a south Indian food chain is being investigated by the SIT, led by Joint Commissioner of Police SK Gautam. He claimed that further investigation into this case was only possible once the final ballistics report comes out. The ballistics test has been conducted to ascertain the direction of the bullets from guns of Vashisht and policemen. Vashisht was killed on May 16. These SITs may take more time in finalising their findings in the much-talked about cases. Only those at the helm know how much time they may take, said an official.