Shobhit murder case: HC reserves order on petition for CBI probe

The Delhi High Court Tuesday reserved its order on a man's plea for CBI inquiry into the murder of his son Shobhit Modi, an IT student, near his south Delhi residence in May this year.

Justice Mukta Gupta reserved the order after the counsel concluded their arguments on a plea by Shobhit's father Suraj Modi for transfer of the investigation from Delhi Police to CBI.

20-year-old Shobhit, a student of Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, was fatally stabbed by unknown persons near his Vasant Kunj residence on May 5, this year.

Accusing the father and brother of Shobhit's girlfriend of being involved in his murder, the slain youth's family alleged that the city police was ignoring vital leads in the case, including the contents of SMSes exchanged between the victim and his girl friend.

Counsel for the petitioner argued that the victim's family members had supplied the mobile phone, laptop to the police for investigation but nothing was found till date.

"Police have failed to analyse the contents of the SMSes and the victim's interaction with his friend about his affair with the girl," the counsel submitted, adding there was no motive of robbery behind the murder as the victim's belongings were intact.

The lawyer submitted his client was threatened by the father and brother of his girlfriend in his college a few months before the incident as they were against their relationship.

Opposing the plea for transfer of the probe, the city police has told the court that it has already examined over 1,100 people in the case.

The Delhi Police counsel submitted that several police teams have been working under the supervision of DCP (South) but no clue has been found as yet.

"Transfer of the case is not going to enhance the case in any manner. We have examined more than 1,100 people including the family members of his girl friend. Each aspect in the case is being examined by the police but nothing has been found so far," the counsel said.

"It does not call for transfer or any interference into the investigation in the case," the lawyer said while arguing that police cannot investigate the case as per the instructions of the complainant -- Shobhit's father.