2005 marine engineer's death off Kenyan coast under HC scanner

The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Centre and the CBI on a man's plea claiming lack of progress in the agency's probe into the death of his marine engineer son, who allegedly jumped into the high seas near Mombasa Port in Kenya in 2005.
Justice Pratibha Rani also issued notice and sought replies of Swiss company MSC Shipping, on whose ship the deceased was employed, and was its then captain.
Government's standing counsel Anil Soni accepted notice on behalf of the Centre and said that the counter affidavit would be filed before the next date of hearing on March 19, 2015.

The court was hearing the plea of the deceased youth's father, Zaheer Zaidi, who has alleged that despite the court's earlier direction to CBI to probe the death of his son, Hasan Zaheer, the agency is yet to report any progress.
Zaidi sought further probe into his 23-year-old son's death, to bring the real culprits before the law.
Hasan mysteriously disappeared and was reported to have "committed suicide" in the high seas near Mombasa in Kenya on October 12, 2005.

It was reported that another cadet had seen him jumping of the deck, the petition has said.
Zaidi, a Delhi-based shipping agent, said in his plea that in December 2013 the high court has dismissed his earlier petition taking into consideration the status report filed by Delhi Police revealing that CBI has already registered a preliminary enquiry into the matter and hence no further direction is called for in the matter.

"Petitioner is yet to hear about any progress being made by CBI in the investigation," the petition has said.
Hasan last spoke to his family on October 9, 2005 four days before the supposed suicide, from the ship, it has said.
"He (Hasan) had sounded happy about his assignment," Zaidi said in his plea, adding that his son had no reason to commit suicide.