The CBI has taken over the murder case of a Class VII student of Sapphire International School, Ranchi in 2016 for re-investigation following a direction from the Jharkhand High Court on a petition from the deceased’s father. Thirteen-year-old Binay Mahto’s body was found outside the teachers quarters in the school campus under Dhurwa police station of Ranchi. The victim was a student of the said school.
Earlier this month, the Jharkhand High Court passed an order in respect to a criminal writ petition of 2018 filed by the victim's father Manbahala Mahto directing the CBI to re-investigate the FIR Number 45 of 2016 of Dhurwa police station against unknown persons.
Following the High Court order, the Anti-Corruption Branch, CBI, Ranchi. In his criminal writ petition, the victim’s father submitted that his son was murdered in the wee hours of February 5, 2016 at around 1.30 AM and the petitioner received information from the officer of the said school who lodged the complaint with the police against which the original FIR was registered.
The case was probed by the officer-in-charge of Tupudana OP and later on by the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hatia, Ranchi who issued instruction note to the Investigating Officer to investigate the case.
The Inspector General of Ranchi police had also directed to investigate the case on certain lines but the probe was not accordingly. Subsequently, a chargesheet was also filed in the case and trial began.
The trial court observed that the investigation was not concluded in a proper way and the prosecution story is creating doubt. The trial court further observed that it was surprising that three persons—Kanika Bose, Atanu Nag and RN Pradhan of school were entitled to care for the boys of the school hostel surrounded by a boundary wall and locked gate but how the deceased reached before the teachers residence gate, is a question of investigation. However, the Investigating Officer did not take the statement of hostel in-charge and produced a concocted story before the court.
Through an earlier order dated September 26, 2018, the High Court observed that the supplementary investigation was kept pending and no further chargesheet has been filed before the trial court. An order of the trial court dated June 1, 2018 further substantiated the contention of the petitioner with respect to perfunctory investigation being conducted by the police.
Through another order dated October 4, 2018, the High Court had stayed further proceedings by trial court. During course of probe by Ranchi police, two juveniles were also tried but the Juvenile Justice Board through its order on July 6, 2018 acquitted two minor accused.