Dadri Killing: Why the Reluctance in Handing the Case Over to CBI?

Dadri lynching: The Centre is keen on a CBI inquiry but the UP govt says the police investigation is thorough.

Pictures of Akhlaq and his son Danish. (Photo: The Quint)

Home Minister Rajnath Singh in his Lok Sabha speech on Tuesday said for the first time that the Dadri Killing had no communal angle. He added, “I am ready to get the CBI to investigate into the matter if the state government sends a request.” The Samajwadi Party President, Mulayam Singh, quick to respond to the Home Minister’s speech, claimed three BJP members were involved in the incident.

On 18 November, The Quint was the first to report that Mohammad Akhlaq’s murder may have been the result of a personal grudge rather than a communal murder.

The Quint tried to contact the offices of the UP Chief Minister and senior Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav but none were ready to comment on whether the state government will hand over the case to the CBI.

The Home Minister has made a political statement. The UP state is competent enough to handle the case, we don’t have to give the case to the CBI.

<b>Naresh Agrawal, Rajya Sabha MP and Samajwadi Party Leader</b>

MP Naresh Agrawal was also quick to point out that the UP government has given Rs 45 lakh and four flats to the victim’s family and claimed they are satisfied with the state police investigation.

The state police is probing the involvement of three BJP members as mentioned by Netaji (Mulayam Singh) in the House. Necessary action would be taken against them, if they are found guilty.

<b>Naresh Agrawal</b>

While the victim’s family refused to comment on the matter, the spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party claimed the investigation by the UP police was fair and transparent.

The state government has been taking all the necessary steps. We should wait for the investigation to get over. At this juncture there are no requests for a CBI inquiry pending before us.

<b>Gaurav Bhatia, Additional Advocate General, UP and National President - Legal Wing, Samajwadi Party</b>

The Quint in its earlier report had pointed out gaps in the investigation by the UP Police, based on the statement of an eyewitness who said he was present when Akhlaq was killed, even though the police have not made him an official witness and have not taken his statement. According to him, out of ten people who are arrested, three are innocent and seven others who were involved, are yet to be arrested.

The UP police has also not recorded the statement of Akhlaq’s son Danish, who was attacked along with his father and suffered near-fatal injuries. He is now out of hospital, and is the prime witness in the case.

Given the posturing by the Centre and the UP government, there are some questions that need answering:

• Since the Centre claims to have known the real reason behind the Dadri lynching why has it not made its stand clear earlier?
  
• When it is easy for the state government to recommend that the CBI take over the case, why has the UP government shied away from it so far?