Anis Khan Death: Calcutta High Court Takes On Record Status Reports Filed By SIT & District Judge

The Calcutta High Court on Friday took on record the status report submitted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the ongoing probe into the death of 28 year old student leader of West Bengal's Aliah University, Anis Khan, under mysterious circumstances at Amta in Howrah district. 

The Court had earlier taken suo moto cognisance of the case after terming the incident as 'grave and shocking'.

Justice Rajasekhar Mantha had earlier turned down a prayer for a CBI probe and had allowed the State government-appointed Special Investigation Team to continue with its probe but under the supervision of a Howrah district judge. The Court had also ordered for a second post mortem to be conducted by the SIT under the supervision of the Howrah district judge.

On Friday, the State government submitted the report of the SIT before the Court as per the Court's earlier directions and also averred that further investigation was required in the instant case. Taking on record the SIT report, Justice Mantha ordered that a copy of the SIT should be served to the senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, 

"The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has filed a detailed report comprising of 20 pages. Concealing the names of certain persons, disclosure whereof, the SIT thinks may prejudice the investigation, let a copy of such investigation report be made available to Mr. Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, learned senior advocate appearing for the petitioner", the Court recorded in its order. 

The Court also took on record the progress report filed by the District Judge, North 24 Parganas appointed in the matter.  Accordingly, the Court listed the matter for further hearing on March 14. 

Justice Mantha had earlier ordered that the mobile phone of the deceased should be sealed in presence of the petitioner or his representative by the concerned Investigating Officer (IO) of the SIT and transmitted to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory at Hyderabad. The District Judge had also been directed to examine the mobile phone of the deceased and the Test Identification parade in particular.

The Court had further averred that the the District Judge shall be entitled to nominate any person of the rank of a Magistrate to be present at the time of the post mortem. The post mortem and all investigations of all witnesses shall be videographed and copies should be made available to the District Judge, it had been directed further.

Background

Student activist Anish Khan was found dead at his home in Amta block in Howrah district in the early hours of Saturday, February 19, 2022. Khan's murder has also sparked a large-scale students' protest at the Aliah University of Kolkata, where he was enrolled in an integrated five-year-long Master of Business Administration (MBA) Course. Khan also played a pivotal role in the 137-day-long protest by Aliah University students against the state government's policies.

Alleging that four persons had come to their house on Friday night donning police and civic volunteer uniforms, Khan's father has claimed that his son was pushed off the third floor of their house in Amta. Khan's family has been demanding a CBI investigation into the death.

West Bengal Police had constituted a three-member SIT on Tuesday to probe the death of a student in Aliah University. The team is led by the Additional Director General of Police of CID Gyanwant Singh. According to the state government order, the SIT will submit its report within 15 days.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had given the direction for the constitution of an SIT after protests had erupted over the murder of Aliah University student Anis Khan.

Case Title: Salem Khan v. State of West Bengal and Ors

Click Here To Read/Download Order