Observing that probe by Chilkur police of Suryapet district into the mysterious death of a scheduled tribe youngster was ‘marked by grave inconsistencies, patent investigative lapses’, the Telangana High Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation for ‘fresh, independent and comprehensive’ investigation.

Justice N. Tukaramji of the HC instructed the CBI to register a regular case based on the materials received and conduct the investigation ‘de-novo’ uninfluenced by any clear findings or conclusions. Allowing the writ petition filed by the deceased Nikhil’s father Dharavath Bhaskar for probe by the CBI, the judge said the record revealed that investigation initially proceeded on a pre-conceived hypothesis of suicide even prior to the respective definitive forensic findings.

“Such an approach is antithetical to the settled principles of governing criminal investigation and undermines the constitutional guarantee of fair and impartial process,” the order said. There were inconsistent medical opinions and an apparent lack of transparency in furnishing postmortem report to the youngster’s family. These deficiencies assume significance in the light of conflicting opinions on record.

While one medical opinion suggested that Nikhil drowned after being strangulated, another said there were no ante-mortem injuries. Such irreconcilable investigation is vulnerable to serious doubt and hence required an independent, thorough and scientifically robust enquiry, the judge said. A law graduate, Nikhil went missing on October 9, 2022 from Suryapet.

He left home telling his family members that he was going to meet his friends. His mobile phone was switched off. Two days later, he was found dead in a canal. Initially, a case of missing person was registered. Later, a separate First Information Report was issued by the Chilkur police.

The youngster’s father repeatedly told the police that his son’s death was not a suicide but a homicide. The motive could be Nikhil’s relationship with a young woman belonging to an upper-caste family. He charged that earlier the woman’s relatives issued threats to Nikhil and assaulted him.

The judge instructed the CBI to examine all aspects, including possibility of homicide under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. The angles of caste based motive under relevant sections of the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act, last seen theory, call data records, digital evidence and CCTV footage should be sifted, the order said.

The medical and forensic evidence should be re-evaluated. If necessary, fresh expert opinion should be obtained. The State police department, including Crime Investigation Department (to which the case was transferred from local police), should transfer entire case records to CBI. The victim’s family should be informed of all significant developments while furnishing copies of relevant reports in accordance with law, the order said.