[Judge Uttam Anand Death] Jharkhand High Court allows impleadment of WhatsApp on request by CBI

The Jharkhand High Court recently ordered that 'Whatsapp' be impleaded as a party to a suo motu case before it in connection with the killing of judge Uttam Anand [Court on its own motion Vs. Chief Secretary & Ors.]. .The order was passed by a bench of Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad in view of the submission made by Additional Solicitor General, SV Raju, on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that certain information sought from Whatsapp had not yet been furnished by the messaging app, which was causing hindrance to the probe."Submission has been made to implead the ‘WhatsApp’ through its Nodal Officer, as party to the proceeding, so that the information which has been sought for may be furnished and it will be proper for furtherance of investigation. This Court has heard the aforesaid submission and is of the view that the ‘WhatsApp’ is required to be impleaded as party to the proceeding which will be proper for furtherance of the investigation," the High Court observed.However, since the address for service of notice of WhatsApp was not made available, the Court adjourned the matter so that the proper address of ‘WhatsApp’ may be furnished for its impleadment in the case."As on today, the detail address for service of notice upon the Nodal Officer of ‘WhatsApp’ is not available, and therefore, adjournment for today has been sought for. Considering the aforesaid submission, let this matter be listed on April 1, 2022, so that, the proper address of ‘WhatsApp’ may be furnished for its impleadment in the present proceeding," the order stated.Further, the Court also directed that a progress report regarding the investigation be placed before it on the next date of hearing and asked the Investigating Officer of the case to be present virtually as well."Let the progress report submitted today, be kept in sealed cover and be returned to the Registrar General of this Court to keep it in the safe custody," the Court added..Judge Uttam Anand of Dhanbad court was on a morning walk, when he was knocked down by a vehicle on July 28, 2021He suffered severe injuries and later died during the course of treatment.While it was initially believed to be an accident, CCTV footage of the incident surfaced suggesting that the vehicle was deliberately rammed into the judge as he was walking along the edge of the road.The High Court had then initiated the present suo motu case to look into the same and had directed the Director General of Police to issue appropriate order/direction for constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter.The Court had also directed that a status report be filed before it.Later, the State government decided to hand over the probe to CBI which the Court acceded to..[Read Order]