Calcutta HC directs police to hand over Raju Jha murder case to CBI

KOLKATA: On Wednesday, the Calcutta high court instructed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to assume control of the murder investigation of Raju Jha. Jha, who was believed to be associated with a coal syndicate, was fatally shot by two attackers while inside his SUV on NH-19 in Shaktigarh, located in West Bengal's Bardhaman district. The court's decision transfers the case from the local police to the CBI for further investigation.
Justice Rajasekhar Mantha directed the CBI to probe the case within four months.
The court took on record a CBI report which said the petitioner, Narendra Kharka, is a chargesheeted accused in a coal scam case being investigated by the agency.
The report also said Rajesh Kumar Jha, alias Raju Jha, was not an accused in any case being probed by the agency and was allegedly operating a coal syndicate between 2015 and 2020.
The court also noted the CBI report which said that one of the persons who escaped the attack was Abdul Latif, an accused in a cattle smuggling case being probed by the agency.
The counsel for the West Bengal government submitted that police had made substantial progress in the probe and were on the verge of wrapping up the case.
Justice Mantha observed there is some merit in the submissions of the CBI that the FIR registered by Shaktigarh police station on April 1 "is vitally linked to the existing investigations being conducted by the CBI in the coal and cattle scams." Kharka had moved court after one of his employees was taken into custody by police in connection with Jha's murder and was allegedly tortured in custody.