SC turns down anticipatory bail to army major in wife's murder

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain the anticipatory bail plea of an army Major, accused of murdering his wife in officers' staff quarters in Thakur Pukur cantonment area, Kolkata three month ago.

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain the anticipatory bail plea of an army Major, accused of murdering his wife in officers' staff quarters in Thakur Pukur cantonment area, Kolkata three month ago.

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Accused Maj. Krishankant Dwivedi had moved the SC after the Calcutta HC cancelled his anticipatory bail granted by a sessions judge at Bishnupur. While acting on a petition filed by the victim’s father (who hailed from Shimla), the HC had questioned "arbitrary" use of judicial discretion by the sessions court even before the police started the probe.

The alleged murder took place in May 2011 in staff quarters of 1831 Light Regiment at Thakur Pukur. Manju was allegedly killed within a week of her joining her husband from Shimla. Her father Dr L N Negi had been running from pillar to post to get justice to his daughter married to the army officer 12 years ago.

An SC bench headed by justice HS Bedi dismissed Maj. Dwivedi's petition for quashing of the HC order, saying the accused should join the investigation.

The victim's family had alleged before the HC that local Army authorities were not helping in the investigation despite the matter being reported to defence minster A K Antony and GOC Eastern Command Lt Gen Bikram Singh.