CBI wants to close Najeeb Ahmed missing case
New Delhi, Sep 4 : The CBI on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that it has completed its investigation into the disappearance of Jawaharlal Nehru University student, Najeeb Ahmed, from "every aspect" and sought permission to file a closure report in the case.
The CBI counsel told a bench of Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice Vinod Goel that the agency has analysed "everything" related to the matter, and that it now wants to file a final report seeking to close the case.
Advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for Ahmed's mother Fatima Nafees requested the court to direct CBI to re-investigate the matter or order a further probe by another special investigation team which must comprise officials not belonging to the probe agency.
Gonsalves requested the court to supply him the status reports filed by the agency.
He alleged the probe agency has not conducted the investigation in a fair manner and has shielded members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) by not conducting their custodial interrogation.
He alleged political influence in the case as the BJP-led Central Government has "protected" the ABVP members who had threatened Ahmed.
Countering his submission, CBI said that it was just a presumption.
The court observed that it cannot direct CBI to supply status report to the petitioner.
However, the bench said that as per procedure, the petitioner can get detailed reports of the investigation after the final report is filed.
The court also observed that the petitioner can contest the matter once a closure report is submitted.
The bench reserved its order on the habeas corpus plea filed by Fatima Nafees, Ahmed's mother.
Ahmed, 27, an MSc first year student, was reported missing on October 15, 2016 after a fight allegedly with the ABVP members. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated student body has denied any involvement.
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SC asks states to treat rising child trafficking cases as grave; seeks coordinated action
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court has voiced grave concern over rising cases of child trafficking, saying gangs are operating across the country and if States and Union territories do not take immediate action, thing will go beyond control.
The court said only the state government and its home department can act vigilantly in this regard.
“As a court we can monitor, but ultimately the action has to be on the part of the state government, the police, and other agencies. Therefore, this is our humble request”, a bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan said during the hearing of a plea on Wednesday.
The bench was irked over the "lackadaisical" approach of several states and UTs in implementing a 2025 judgment aimed at dismantling organised trafficking networks.
Justice Viswanathan said the retrieval of children in some cases proves the problem can be tackled, but it requires a level of political and administrative will which is lacking at present.
The verdict, delivered on April 15, 2025, had mandated several institutional reforms, including completion of trials in trafficking cases within six months on a day-to-day basis.
It had also directed strengthening of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and improving investigation standards.
Besides asking for setting up of state-level committees to monitor vulnerable trafficking hotspots, it had asked the authorities to treat missing children cases as trafficking unless proven otherwise.
Earlier, the bench had termed the compliance reports filed by a few states as "nothing but an eye wash."
On Wednesday, the bench noted that Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, and Punjab had still failed to file reports in the prescribed format.
When the home secretary of Madhya Pradesh offered an apology for the lapse, the bench granted a "final opportunity" but warned that continued failure would lead to states being officially branded as "defaulting".
The bench noted that at least 15 states are yet to constitute review committees mandated to identify and monitor trafficking-prone areas.
The matter will now be heard on April 29.
