The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the death of a Tarn Taran woman, who had died of burn injuries in 2013.
Her husband, Balwinder Singh, had approached the high court seeking a CBI probe, alleging that no effective action had been taken by the police even though an FIR was got registered against the accused by him on the ground of attempt to murder of his wife. The petitioner's brother, the latter's wife and son, with whom the petitioner had a property dispute, are accused in the case.
It is alleged that the petitioner's wife died as a result of burn injuries in July 2013 after kerosene was poured on her by the accused and she was set afire. She had died in a local hospital of burn injuries, recorded at more than 96%. At one point, the state police had prepared a cancellation report in the case.
The petitioner had claimed that the respondents were influential persons due to which the police were not carrying out the investigation. It was also brought before the court that the victim's dying declaration, recorded in the presence of a magistrate, was not taken into account by the police while preparing the cancellation report. The accused were not arrested and the case was heading nowhere as police were going slow in the investigation despite his representations to senior police officials, the petitioner said.
{{/usCountry}}The petitioner had claimed that the respondents were influential persons due to which the police were not carrying out the investigation. It was also brought before the court that the victim's dying declaration, recorded in the presence of a magistrate, was not taken into account by the police while preparing the cancellation report. The accused were not arrested and the case was heading nowhere as police were going slow in the investigation despite his representations to senior police officials, the petitioner said.
{{/usCountry}}Though a detailed order is awaited, the high court bench of justice Rajan Gupta, while allowing the petition on Thursday, asked the CBI to probe the matter and submit a report within four months.