During the hearing of a petition filed by Rizwanur’s brother Rukbanur, Justice Dipankar Dutta said the CBI has sought permission to file charges against three police officers for forcing Rizwanur to commit suicide and is also keen to charge industrialist Ashok Todi, his associate Anil Sarogi and the middleman, Mainuddin, with abetment.
Rizwanur died on September 21, 2007, a month after he married Priyanka Todi.
The central agency told the court that three police officers — the then Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department) Ajoy Kumar and two officers of the Anti-Rowdy Section, Sukanti Chakraborty and Krishnendu Das — should be charged under Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
Justice Dutta said the agency has also recommended steps against Prasun Mukherjee, the then Kolkata Police chief who was later made Additional Director General (Telecom) with the West Bengal Police. Justice Dutta has asked Mukherjee to file an affidavit by March 12, the next date of hearing.
The agency has also recommended disciplinary actions against Gyanwant Singh, the then deputy commissioner (Headquarters), and a police officer of the Karaya police station.
Justice Dutta, however, declined to release the complete report in view of the CBI’s request. The agency has told the court that this might jeopardise investigation.
The court also directed the state government to file an affidavit on the role played by the Karaya police since some of its officers had summoned Rizwanur and threatened him repeatedly. They had also initially refused to file Rukbanur’s complaint against the alleged bullying tactics of Todi.
Commenting on today’s High Court directive and the recommended action against police officers, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy said he is yet to receive the court’s order and only after getting it will he be in a position to act on it.