HC orders probe into death of power whistleblower

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi Police Crime Branch to probe the mysterious death of RTI activist Ravinder Balwani.

The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi Police Crime Branch to probe the mysterious death of RTI activist Ravinder Balwani.

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Balwani, who died in an accident on April 26, had exposed the alleged corruption by some IAS officers working with the Delhi Transco. He had also been involved with Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal's NGO, Parivartan.

The direction to the Delhi Police came during a hearing into a plea by Delhi Lokayukta, challenging a single judge bench order that the ombudsman had no authority to inquire into the allegations against a member of judicial service or civil services of the Union or state.

The counsel for the Lokayukta told the court that Balwani's son had sent a letter to the watchdog, which was written by the RTI activist before his death. In the letter, addressed to the Lokayukta, Balwani had apprehended a threat to his life.

In 2009, the Lokayukta had summoned the IAS officers, against whom Balwani had sent a complaint. But after the officers moved the court, a single judge bench barred the watchdog from moving against them.

A former manager with the Delhi Transco Limited, Balwani was found injured near his house. Delhi government's standing counsel Pawan Sharma told the court that it was hit-and-run and a case in this regard had been lodged in the Vasant Kunj police station.