Gangster Sanjeev Jeeva murder: Allahabad High Court refuses to order CBI probe

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday refused to order a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a similar agency into the murder of gangster, Sanjiv Maheshwari Jeeva, who was shot dead on the premises of a Lucknow court on June 7 [Moti Lal Yadav v State Of UP Thru Addl Chief Secy/Prin Secy Deptt Home & Ors]..A bench of Justices Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Jaspreet Singh observed that only six days have passed since the First Information Report (FIR) was filed and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case. Hence, there is currently no basis to doubt that the investigation would not be conducted appropriately and in the right direction, the Court said.However, the bench granted the liberty to the petitioner to approach the Court at any future point of time, if the investigation of the case does not proceed appropriately. .The plea was moved by one Moti Lal Yadav who sought the constitution of a High-Level Officers' Committee, led by a sitting or retired High Court judge, to investigate the murder of gangster 'Jeeva.' The petitioner also sought directives to transfer the investigation to an independent agency like the CBI..Jeeva was shot dead on the premises of a Lucknow court on Wednesday, June 7. Reportedly a close associate of former UP MLA Mukhtar Ansari, Jeeva was an accused in the murder of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brahm Dutt Dwivedi..The High Court, on Tuesday, remarked that the incident was "deeply unfortunate" and that it raised significant concerns among all stakeholders, including the judicial community and the members of the Bar. It is a matter of great concern that an under-trial, who was under police custody, was unable to find safety and was ultimately killed while attending the trial, the Court said."The assailant or the accused had entered the Court premises in a lawyer's uniform, though he was immediately apprehended by the vigilant lawyers present in the Court premises after the incident, however his entry into the Court premises in robes compounds the concern to be shared by all stake-holders including the Home Department of the State and District and Police administration as also the Bar association concerned and the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh and the lawyers fraternity in general," the Court observed..Supreme Court refuses urgent listing of plea by wife of murdered gangster Sanjiv Jeeva .All the same, the Court opined that it cannot draw any conclusions about the SIT's performance or the ongoing investigation at present. Moreover, in view of the high ranks held by the SIT members, there is no reason to believe, at this stage, that the investigation will not proceed in the correct manner, the Court said."We, however, would like to record our trust and hope that the investigation by the Special Investigation Team (S.I.T.) shall be conducted in the appropriate direction with expedition," the Court added..With these observations, the Court disposed of the plea. .[Read Order]