HC says no to CBI probe in Jalore encounter by Andhra cops

The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday rejected a plea seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the Bheem Singh encounter case.

The court has ordered the investigating officer to conduct a fair probe following the Supreme Court guidelines. However, in case the petitioner is not satisfied with the inquiry, the court also gave liberty to the petitioner to file a petition before the district and sessions judge of Jalore district.

The high court was hearing a petition by Vimla Kanwar, wife of deceased Bheem Singh, in which it was alleged that the encounter by the Andhra Pradesh police was fake.

Suspect Bheem Singh was wanted for looting Rs 5.5 crore in Kurnool on September 14, last year. He was killed in a firing by the Andhra Pradesh police in Sanchore area of Jalore district on October 27.

A woman was also killed after being hit by the suspect’s vehicle, which was being chased by the Andhra Police. The Jalore police had said that the Andhra Pradesh police had not given any information about the firing; they had got the information from locals.

During the hearing on the petition, CBI counsel, Sachin Acharya told the court that the CBI has refused to investigate the case considering it not to be worth investigating. He also said that the Supreme Court has set some grounds for a CBI probe, and the case does not fit those parameters.

After the hearing, Justice Vijay Bishnoi had reserved judgment. On Tuesday, Justice Bishnoi ordered the inquiry officer to investigate the Bheem Singh encounter case fairly in accordance with the guidelines given in the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Vs State of Maharashtra and Others case by the Supreme Court.