CBI Replaces Investigating officer in Patna NEET Student Death Probe
Patna- A major decision has been taken regarding the alleged negligence in the investigation into the death of a NEET student in Patna. Where, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has replaced the Investigating Officer (IO) appointed for this case.
Now, DSP Vibha Kumari has been appointed as the new IO, replacing earlier ASP Pawan Kumar Srivastava. After assuming charge as the new Investigating Officer (IO), Vibha Kumari, along with her team, visited the student's home in Jehanabad, where family members and villagers had staged a protest.
During the interrogation, the student's mother fell ill and fainted. However, in her visit, the family also argued that while the CBI has conducted interrogations on several occasions, no concrete results have emerged so far. Several serious questions have been raised regarding the CBI's investigation, report News4News.
Meanwhile, the student's grandfather alleged that the CBI is pressuring them to accept the case as a suicide. He stated that he has already submitted all the evidence. In the meantime, the family's lawyer, SK Pandey, has filed a petition in court regarding the complaint and compensation. The hearing on this matter is scheduled for March 23.
The primary demands of the family members are that their statements be recorded in court, a copy of the investigation report be provided, cases be registered against the officials responsible for the negligence, and adequate compensation be granted to the victim's family. Currently, following the replacement of the Investigating Officer (IO), improvements are expected in both the direction and the pace of the investigation.
The CBI initiated its investigation after taking over the case on February 12. However, the POCSO Court had expressed strong displeasure regarding the slow pace of the investigation and procedural irregularities. This change was effected in light of these observations. The POCSO Act had not been invoked at the time of registering the case, an oversight for which the Court issued a reprimand.
In connection with this matter, the family has received two threatening letters, a complaint regarding which has been lodged at the Shakurabad Police Station. However, the local police have so far failed to take any concrete action in this case.
