HC seeks DRI, Delhi govt reply on plea for CBI probe into death of jeweller

The Delhi High Court today sought a response from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Delhi government over a woman's plea seeking a CBI probe into the death of her 40-year-old son who allegedly jumped to death from the probe agency's office here.

Gaurav Gupta, a Delhi-based jeweller, who was questioned at the DRI office in connection with a purported gold smuggling case, yesterday allegedly jumped to death from the probe agency's building in the CGO complex area here, according to an official statement.

The plea has alleged that"suspicious circumstances" led to the death of Gupta.

The court issued notices to the DRI and the Delhi government and sought status report from them by tomorrow.

Justice Mukta Gupta also directed the DCP South to get a medical board constituted at AIIMS and get Gupta's autopsy conducted.

The court also asked the police to preserve the CCTV footage of Gupta's shop and the DRI office or nearby areas, if available.

Gupta was taken to the DRI office yesterday in connection with an alleged gold smuggling case after his shop and residence here were raided by officials, the plea filed by his mother, through advocate Vijay Aggarwal, said.

Senior advocate Kirti Uppal, also appearing for the petitioner, alleged that soon the mother received a call from DRI demanding Rs 1.5 crores if she wanted to save her son from any torture.

Later in the day, the family found out that Gupta died, it alleged, adding that the death took place under suspicious circumstances.

The DRI officials had yesterday released a press note on the incident saying Gupta jumped from a window at 12 pm after he was brought to the probe agency office for questioning over gold and silver worth Rs 13 crores recovered from his shop and residence.

Gupta was waiting in the visitors' room inside the DRI office before he jumped, the statement had said.

He was rushed to Safdarjung hospital but could not survive, it had said.