CBI submits progress report on Dhanbad judge death case to Jharkhand HC

The 49-year-old judge was mowed down by a vehicle while he was out for his morning jog on July 28

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday submitted the progress report of the investigation into the death of Dhanbad additional session judge Uttam Anand to Jharkhand high court in a sealed cover, reported news agency ANI.

CCTV footage of the incident showed judge Uttam Anand was jogging on Randhir Verma Chowk when a vehicle veered towards him, hit him from behind and fled. (File photo)

The 49-year-old judge was mowed down by a vehicle while he was out for his morning jog on July 28. CCTV footage of the incident showed he was jogging on Randhir Verma Chowk when a vehicle veered towards him, hit him from behind and fled.

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren had handed over the case to CBI on July 31, and the central probe agency had dispatched a 20-member team under the additional superintendent of police, Vijay Kumar Shukla, to investigate the matter.

CBI had recreated the scene of the accident while experts of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) collected samples from the spot, as a part of its probe. The investigative agency had also declared a reward of ₹5 lakh for anyone sharing "information of importance" pertaining to the judge's death.

The Dhanbad police, which was in charge of the investigation before CBI took over, had arrested Lakhan Kumar Verma and Rahul Verma on July 29, the duo was allegedly riding the vehicle at the time of the accident. “Based on facts that came up during the investigation and the CCTV camera footage, two people and the auto involved in the crime were identified. Two persons, identified as Lakhan Kumar Verma and Rahul Verma have been arrested and the auto was seized from their possession. They have confessed to the crime. Further investigation will be done carefully,” Amol V Homkar, inspector general (operations), told Hindustan Times. The accused are currently in CBI's custody till August 21.

On its part the Jharkhand high court asked the concerned authority of Forensic Science Laboratory, Ranchi, to appear before the court in the next hearing. The court issued this order after learning that the urine test of one of the accused could not be conducted due to the unavailability of a required facility, ANI also reported.