In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a thorough inquiry into the mysterious death of Ranjana Diwan, the wife of a senior judicial officer in Chhattisgarh.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna B. Varale passed the order in response to an appeal by Ranjana’s mother and brother. They had questioned the integrity of the initial police investigation following her death in 2016, which had been classified as a suicide.
Ranjana had married Manvendra Singh, a judicial officer appointed as Additional District Judge in 2013, just a year before her untimely death. Her family claimed to have received a sudden call in May 2016, informing them of her alleged suicide. They expressed deep suspicion about the circumstances surrounding her death, especially after being denied access to the post-mortem report for an extended period.
Despite the police closing the case as a suicide, the family sought a more rigorous investigation. After a writ petition before the Chhattisgarh High Court, the petitioners were advised to file a formal complaint under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows a magistrate to order an investigation. However, doubts over the impartiality of the probe remained, prompting them to approach the Supreme Court.
In court, the family voiced concerns that Singh’s influence as a serving judicial officer could compromise any investigation. They pointed to the post-mortem findings, which mentioned six antemortem injuries that were left unexplained. The State of Chhattisgarh, however, maintained that the investigation had been conducted fairly.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested that appointing a high-level Special Investigation Team or, alternatively, handing the case to the CBI would ensure a credible investigation, instilling confidence in the family and society at large.
The Supreme Court found the family’s concerns valid, particularly given Singh’s position in the judiciary. Ordering the CBI to take over the investigation, the Court emphasized that a probe by the national investigative agency would help ensure justice and uphold the right to a fair investigation.
The Court noted that there were allegations of bias and undue influence on the local police and stressed the importance of a thorough, independent investigation, especially regarding the unexplained injuries on Ranjana’s body. The CBI has been directed to conduct its inquiry swiftly, with the Chhattisgarh government required to fully cooperate, providing all necessary documents and assistance.
While the Court refrained from commenting on the merits of the case, it made it clear that the CBI should proceed without being influenced by any observations made during the hearing.
