CBI to Probe Bihar Journalist’s Murder After Government Intervenes

The CM also said investigation is being done with due diligence and a chargesheet will be filed in the case soon.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will investigate the murder of Rajdev Ranjan, a senior journalist who was murdered in Siwan, Bihar on 13 May.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asked for a CBI probe into the murder following a demand from the deceased’s family.

Reports state that Ranjan had been actively writing against lawbreakers in the area before he was gunned down in the incident.

We have learnt that victim’s family wants a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) inquiry… We have not left any stone unturned. The investigation is being carried out with highest diligence. The person who has committed the crime will get the strictest punishment under law.

Nitish Kumar, Bihar Chief Minister

The chief minister also said that the investigation is being carried out with “highest diligence” and police will file a charge sheet at the earliest.

The Chief Minister slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for the killing of a teenager in Gaya and a journalist’s murder as the return of Jungle Raj in the state.

Wife of Rajdev Ranjan has alleged that detained RJD leader Upendra Singh was involved in her husband’s gruesome murder. She claimed that Singh has a lot of clout since he is close to jailed party leader and former Siwan MP Mohammed Shahabuddin, according to The Indian Express.

Police on Sunday questioned district RJD president Parmatna Ram, who confirmed that Singh was an active member of the RJD.

Ranjan’s wife said he was receiving threat calls from Singh,

He would often talk about Upendra Singh calling him up and offering bricks — Singh is a brick kiln owner. Singh would also issue veiled threats to him for writing too much on the Siwan strongman (Shahabuddin). But he would ignore such threats and took it as part of his profession.

The family earlier demanded a CBI probe into the matter, expressing apprehension about a political angle in the murder.

Singh was also an accused in the murder of Srikant Bharati, the press advisor of BJP Siwan MP Om Prakash Yadav.

He has however, not been named in the FIR in the Ranjan murder case. Police have also detained an engineer who had installed the CCTV camera at the place where Ranjan was shot dead on Friday evening, since the footage is no longer available.

Also Read: Two Detained in Journalist Rajdev Ranjan’s Murder: Bihar Police