Overview
- The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry dismissed the PIL on November 12, finding no grounds to doubt the ongoing investigation.
- Status updates placed before the court said an FIR was registered on October 9, a SIT was formed on October 10 under the Chandigarh IG, 14 persons were named, 22 witnesses were examined, and 21 exhibits and CCTV footage were sent for forensic analysis.
- The petitioner, Navneet Kumar, sought a CBI probe citing multiple suicide notes and allegations of caste-based persecution, with the notes naming senior IPS and IAS officers including DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and then Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya.
- Counsel for the Chandigarh Administration argued the plea violated PIL rules and was a publicity stunt, asserting the police acted with promptitude in initiating the probe.
- Following the October 7 death at Kumar’s Chandigarh residence, the state sent DGP Kapur on leave and replaced SP Bijarniya, as the SIT continues its investigation with forensic reports awaited.