Cops, Todis abetted suicide: CBI

KOLKATA, Feb. 28: Rizwanur Rehman, whose body was found near the railway tracks at Dum Dum on 21 September last year a month after his marriage with Ms Priyanka Todi, had committed suicide, according to the CBI report placed before Mr Justice Dipankar Dutta of Calcutta High Court today. The report sought permission, inter alia, to start criminal proceedings against Mr Ashok Todi and Mr Pradip Todi, father and uncle of Priyanka, Mr Anil Saraogi, Priyanka’s maternal uncle for abetting Rizwanur’s suicide, Similar permission was sought to start proceedings against Mr Ajoy Kumar, the then deputy commissioner of police (detective department), some officers of the Kareya police station, Mr Sukanti Chakraborty and Mr Krishnendu Das, both officers of the anti-rowdy wing, and Moinuddin alias Pappu, stated to be a friend of the Rehman family. The state government was recommended to take departmental action against Mr Prasun Mukherjee, the then commissioner of police for his involvement in this matter. Major disciplinary proceedings were recommended against Mr Gyanwant Singh, the then deputy commissioner (headquarters) of the city police. The matter will come up for hearing on 12 March. The report follows an interim order of the court in October directing the CBI to probe the cause of Rizwanur’s death and the police officers who were accused of being involved in the intimidation of Rizwanur Rehman, including Mr Prasun Mukherjee, were transferred from their posts. The home secretary, Mr Prasad Ranjan Roy, said the government would abide by the directions of the High Court. Some time back the city witnessed violence over Rizwanur’s death when some people laid a virtual siege to bridge No.4 and set a few passing cars ablaze demanding a CBI probe. A large cross-section of people supported the demand in a no less forceful but non-violent way. A candle-light silent protest before St Xavier’s College, the deceased’s alma mater, as well as a signature campaign underscored the demand. Even as pressure mounted following a series of talk shows and opinions by civil rights activists, lawyers and social scientists, the Rehman family moved the High Court seeking a CBI probe. The state government announced a judicial probe but even as the matter was pending before Mr Justice Soumitra Pal, the Rehman household in Tiljala saw several senior politicians dropping in to console Mrs Kishwar Jehan, the bereaved mother. They included Miss Mamata Banerjee, Trinamul Congress chief, Mr Rabin Deb, former local MLA of the CPI-M and several other leaders. Even chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee called on Mrs Jehan amid tight security. Meanwhile, in the long legal battle Mr Kalyan Banerjee put forth his submissions for the Rehman’s cause while Mr Balai Roy, advocate-general, pleaded for quashing of the petition. Ordering a CBI probe, the court held that CID investigation was not possible as some of the accused mentioned in the petition were in positions of authority. The popular mood surfaced when people in the court room burst into applause on hearing the verdict and then became silent again in keeping with the dignity of the court.The Statesman (Statesman News Service)