Dhanbad judge's death: SC seeks probe report from Jharkhand within a week

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday took suo motu cognizance of the death of a judicial officer in Jharkhand on Thursday and sought a status report on the investigation conducted so far from the chief secretary and director general of police (DGP) of the state within a week.

A bench comprising of Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said that gruesome incident has been widely reported in newspapers, and video clippings of the incident are also being circulated on social media platforms, suggesting that it was not a case of simplicitor road accident.

SCBA President and senior advocate Vikas Singh on Thursday asked the top court to take suo moto cognisance of the alleged killing of Anand.

The bench said it is cognizant of the fact that the Jharkhand High Court has taken note of the nature of the incident and initiated necessary action to ensure that the state government protects the law and order situation within and outside the court premises.

"Having regard to the seriousness of the issue and its larger ramifications, we direct the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, State of Jharkhand to jointly submit a status report of inquiry vis-a-vis the sad demise of Judicial Officer, Shri Uttam Anand, with the Registry of this Court within a week's time," said the bench.

The bench made it very clear that it is not interfering in the proceedings going on before the high court and added similar incidents are happening across the country.

It emphasised there is an urgent need for wider consideration and consequential detailed explanation by all concerned.

The bench directed the Jharkhand Advocate General to appear before it on the next date of hearing.

"Registry to serve a copy of this order to the Advocate General of the State of Jharkhand forthwith. A copy of this order may also be served on the learned Attorney General for his assistance in this matter," added the bench, fixing the matter for further hearing on August 6.

ADJ Anand, said to be handling cases in connection with gangsters, was hit by an auto-rickshaw on his morning walk on Wednesday and succumbed to the injuries at the hospital. CCTV footage indicated that he was deliberately hit by the auto-rickshaw which was stolen on the previous night. His wife has reportedly lodged a murder case against unknown people.