Sushree Mohanty
The High Court of Punjab and Haryana dismissed the petition filed by Tauseef and Mohammad Rehaan, the two accused, seeking re-investigation in the sensational Nikita Tomar murder case which took place in Faridabad.
In the petition filed before the High Court, the petitioner (accused) had demanded that there should be an impartial investigation in the matter under the supervision of the Director-General of Police (DGP).
However, Justice Sudeep Ahulwalia dismissed the contentions that demanded a re-probe into the case.
Justice Sudip Ahluwalia, after hearing the arguments held that “It would be apt to observe here that the hype surrounding any perceived ‘sensational’ case in the media at large is certainly likely to attract its own share of attention, public curiosity, discussion and reaction. But that cannot ipso facto lead to any supposition that the investigating authorities have abdicated their responsibility of probing into the same fairly or objectively, and where such conduct is imputed, it is for the aggrieved party to make out a cogent and convincing case explaining how the investigation conducted has been improper or unfair.”
The court denied the petitioner’s claims that due to the building pressure from political leaders, the media and the panchayat, the police investigated and submitted their final report in just eleven days after the FIR was lodged and therefore skipped any intensive examination.
On the allegation of the applicant that the challan was presented in a hurry, without waiting for the forensic/scientific examination reports, the High Court said that when the forensic report comes for the situation, the investigation team can again introduce a supplementary challan or further evidence on the basis of their examination.
It was also contested that the accusations of presenting the challan under pressure are wrong as the investigation team has strong evidence like the CCTV film, the statements of eyewitnesses and call details.
On October 26, 2020, Nikita Tomar, 20, had been allegedly shot dead outside her college in Faridabad, by her former classmate Tauseef and his accomplice Mohammed Rehaan. Police had filed a charge sheet in the case, 11 days after the incident. Investigations had revealed that Tauseef harboured one-sided feelings for Tomar, and had been pressuring her to marry him.
The matter is still pending trial.