Sagar Ratna encounter: HC seeks police reply on plea for CBI

The Delhi High Court today sought the city police's response on a plea seeking CBI probe into the encounter killing of Manoj Vashisth at a restaurant here.
Justice Ashutosh Kumar issued notice to the Centre and the Delhi Police and sought their responses on the plea of Vashisth's wife Priyanka for a CBI probe into the killing.
The court has listed the matter for further hearing on July 13 by when Delhi Police has to submit its status report.
A special investigation team (SIT) constituted by Delhi Police to probe the matter is slated to give its report by June 30.

The SIT was constituted after Vashisth's family alleged that he was killed in "cold blood" in a "staged encounter" at Sagar Ratna restaurant in New Rajender Nagar area.
Police also launched a vigilance probe into the case which was separate from the SIT and magisterial inquiries already underway.

Nine policemen, who were part of the team which had allegedly gunned down Vashisth, have already been transferred in the case to ensure a fair probe.
45-year-old Vashisth, who was allegedly wanted in several cases of fraud, was hit by a bullet in the gun fight with a team of Special Cell of Delhi Police on May 16.

He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.