High court orders CBI probe into Champaran dowry death

MOTIHARI: In a rare move, the Patna high court on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into the alleged dowry-related death of Ritu Devi in Kishunpur village under the Piprakothi police station area in East Champaran district early this year.
A bench of Justice Rakesh Kumar, while hearing a plea for anticipatory bail in the case, observed the Motihari sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Pankaj Rawat's supervision note in the case was flawed.The SDPO, who is the supervisory authority of the investigation into the case, has benefited the accused by raising doubts in the mind of court, says the high court order (in the case no 41221/2016) posted on the high court website.
The court also rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by Ritu's mother-in-law Pramila Devi, who is one of the accused in the case. Ritu's husband Avinash Puri and his father Brijmohan Puri are farmers.
The bench directed the high court's registrar general to provide an authenticated copy of the case diary and other briefs to the CBI as and when demanded.
It also directed the state government as well as the state DGP to ensure all possible assistance to the CBI in conducting a fair probe into the case.
The high court opined the supervisory authority appeared to have desired to exonerate all the accused. Statements of only such witnesses were recorded, who substantiated the supervision note, the high court's six-page order said, adding the investigations were not conducted in right perspective.
Ritu's brother Santosh Giri in his FIR lodged in the Piprakothi police station on June 19, 2016 said she was set ablaze by her in-laws, including father-in-law, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and husband Avinash Puri.
Santosh told newsmen the SDPO had demanded graft and he failed to oblige him. "The high court was informed of every detail related to the case, including the SDPO's demand," he said.