Court directs CBI to reinvestigate DSP murder case

A local court in Uttar Pradesh has rejected the closure of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s report, in the murder case of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Zia-ul-Haq, and asked to reinvestigate it.

DSP Zia-ul-Haq was murdered by unknown miscreants in March 2013 in Kunda area of Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh.

His family had accused the then state food and civil supplies minister in Samajwadi Party (SP)-led government, Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya, of killing him.

Singh had resigned following the allegations but later on was given a clean chit by CBI in its closure report.

On Tuesday, the court ordered CBI to reinvestigate the case following the petition filed by Haq's wife Praveen Azad.

Expressing her happiness, Azad said it is the first step towards success.

"I am very happy today. I feel I have gone one step ahead in my fight for justice. Taking note of the points raised by my lawyer regarding the loopholes in CBI's investigation, the judge has rejected its report and has ordered further investigation. I am very happy and hopeful that in my husband's (murder) case, justice will be done," she said.

However, Singh was later re-inducted in the SP cabinet.

Azad's lawyer, Khaliq Ahmad, gave more details after the hearing in the court.

"Raja Bhaiya is current government's (Samajwadi Party) cabinet minister. The riots in Asthan village and illegal sand mining in Gotni Ghat were being investigated by DSP Zia-ul-Haq. No detailed investigation took place. They (CBI) in their closure report summed it up in one line that it (murder) was not linked to it. The court said that it (the case) should be investigated properly," said Ahmad.

During the investigation, the CBI had conducted a polygraph test on Singh

Reportedly, Haq was killed in Pratapgarh where he had gone to probe the murder of a village headman. During the investigation a clash took place between villagers and police and he was allegedly abandoned by the police. Later firing took place during which Haq was killed.

His wife Praveen Azad had accused Singh of the involvement.

Singh has had a long criminal record in the state and is allegedly said to be involved in several illegal activities as well.