Vasai: The judicial magistrate court (Vasai) last week rejected the closure report filed by the CBI in a 2012 Virar murder of an RTI activist, observing that it is imperative to trace two witnesses crucial to this case. “In the absence of recording the statement of these two witnesses, it cannot be said that the investigation is completed,” stated the judge in its order dated March 25.
RTI activist Premkant Jha was shot in the head on Feb 24, 2012, while he was returning home to Phoolpada in Virar east. After filing a case under IPC 302 (murder) Virar police were unable to make any progress and transferred the case to the CID. When the CID too couldn’t make any headway, the case was transferred to the CBI in August 2014. Although the CBI did manage to arrest two accused, it couldn’t take the case to its logical end. They even announced a cash reward of 5 lakhs in 2018, to anyone who could help them with clues. Multiple agencies have worked on this case but it’s yet to be solved.
CBI sources said they filed “A summary report” (indicating that there is insufficient evidence to proceed with the case against the accused) but the investigation can always be reopened in discovery of fresh evidence). Sources said that after the court’s direction, the CBI will now try to trace the witnesses.
The judge mentioned that “it is necessary and relevant to examine witnesses”. The order also mentioned the fact that the deceased died an unnatural death caused by hemorrhage and shock due to the firearm injury, and it is therefore necessary to record the statement of two eyewitnesses.
