Dev’s family rues delay in probe

Almost a month after senior HR executive Awanish Kumar Dev, 45, was killed by a mob of workers at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant, his family has expressed anguish at the slow pace of investigation.

Almost a month after senior HR executive Awanish Kumar Dev, 45, was killed by a mob of workers at Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant, his family has expressed anguish at the slow pace of investigation.

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They alleged that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Gurgaon police has delayed probe in the July 18 incident. Dev’s wife, Suparna Prasad, said she was clueless on the developments in the SIT investigation and is eagerly awaiting the probe report.

Grief stricken, she said Dev always had a pro-worker approach and that cost him his life. “We want to know who did it and in what circumstances it happened,” said Prasad with tears in her eyes.

She works with the CAO branch at the Ministry of Defence since 2006 and is yet to join office. Dev’s son, who studies in Class 12, has, however, rejoined school.

“Awanish had called me up that evening around 6pm and said he was leaving for home but he never came. Six days after the tragedy, joint commissioner of police (Gurgaon) Anil Rao visited our home and assured us of speedy investigation. But after that we are totally unaware of any developments in investigation,” she added.

Rameshwar Sah, the deceased’s 81-year old father, demanded an inquiry by an independent agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Sah, a retired government official from Ranchi, and his wife have decided to stay back with their daughter-in-law and grandson at their Malviya Nagar house in south Delhi for some time.

“Dev was probably confident that he would not be attacked by the agitating workers as he shared a good rapport with them. It was perhaps because of this belief that my son got trapped and was killed by the workers. We want to know what circumstances led to the attack on him but the SIT is moving at a snail's pace. Some independent agency such as CBI should take over the investigation to bring out the truth,” he added.

Meanwhile, senior police officials, including deputy commissioner of police (east) Maheshwar Dayal, remained tightlipped on the probe findings.

Dayal, however, said 99% of the investigation was complete and a final report would be submitted to higher authorities soon.

On the other hand, SY Siddiqui, the chief operating officer (administration), Maruti Suzuki, told HT that an “extraordinary compensation package” had been offered to the aggrieved family much beyond company norms. While refusing to disclose the details, Siddiqui said the long-term interests of the family were kept in mind while deciding the compensation package.