The Manipur High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to place before the court all the reports filed in Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Imphal relating to the death of Ningthoujam Babysana. The HC issued the direction during the hearing of the additional affidavit filed by the CBI on November 16.
The Manipur High Court noted that the reports “reflects the sorry state of affairs prevailing in the CBI”. It stated that the order passed on November 16, 2021 by the CJM, Imphal West was accepted on November 26, 2021 and it was decided that it would be complied with. However, the approval of the competent authority was not conveyed to the investigating officer till December 7, 2021, it said.
“There is no explanation forthcoming why it was delayed. Thereafter, the IO was shifted in January, 2022 and his replacement was not sent till mid-February, 2022. The new IO did not take up effective investigation till March 9,” the HC order stated.
Also Read: Babysana Death Case: 'Lethargic probe' by CBI disappoints court
Further, following the specific direction of the CJM, Imphal West, the CBI should undertake determination of the blood group of the deceased girl by using the bottle containing her blood without preservatives. It is now stated that as the FSL, Manipur, had already expressed its opinion upon the blood samples, the CBI did not send again for opinion. THe CBI chose to sit in appeal over the order passed on November 16, 2021 by the CJM, Imphal West.
The order further stated that the HC was notified that the CBI filed reports before the CJM, Imphal West, after the order of November 16, 2021 passed but it has not been placed on record.
As such, the HC directed the CBI to place all reports filed by the investigation agency in the CJM, Imphal West before it.
It may be mentioned that the CBI on September 2 reportedly collected samples for DNA test in Babysana death case at Forensic Medicine Department, RIMS for the second time, following the direction of the HC for further investigation into the case.
Also Read: Babysana Death Case: CBI collects samples for DNA tests yet again
The CBI had reopened the case for further investigation after the CJM, Imphal West rejected the closure report submitted by the investigation agency.
Thirteen-year-old Babysana of Thangmeiband Imphal West, a hosteller of Standard Robarth School, Canchipur Imphal, was found hanging inside the hostel on July 18, 2019. Her death sparked controversy with family suspecting foul play in the girl’s death though post mortem suggests the cause of death due to asphyxia by hanging.
