'CBI enquiry into Rizwanur's death'

Kolkata, Oct 15: The eight-day-long hearing on the Rizwanur Rahman case ended today at Calcutta High Court with the petitioners seeking a CBI enquiry into the death of the city boy.

Petitioners Kishwar Jahan, Rizwanur's mother, lawyer Kalyan Banerjee, advocate general Balai Ray and APDR lawyer Joymalya Baagchi argued before the bench of Justice Soumitro Pal seeking a proper investigation into the case, which was still shrowded in mystery.

The court is likely to spell out an interim verdict on the case tomorrow, before the court closes for the Puja vacation, lawyer Kalyan Banerjee told reporters.

Social activist Mahasweta Devi and eminent lawyer Siddharth Sankar Ray were present at the packed court room here, where Mr Bagchi pleaded before the bench, seeking CBI enquiry into the death of Rizwanur Rahman. The case had been filed by Rizwanur's mother Kishwar Jahan and brother Rukbanur Rahman.

After the hearing, Mahasweta Devi told reporters that she was ''shocked at the tragic death of such a bright young man'' like Rizwanur and that it needed a proper enquiry to bring truth into the forefront.

''The CBI is the right investigating agency to do the job,'' she said and added, ''''I cannot think of such an incident in a civilised society.'' Mr Roy, fomer chief minister of West Bengal, said that he was yet to receive a reply from Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to his letter relating to Rizwanur's death.

''The state government appears to be in trouble concerning this case,'' he told reporters before leaving the court today.

Meanwhile, Snehasis Ganguly, Sourav Ganguly's elder brother, who was made a party in the case, has filed an application before the court, praying that his name be excluded from the case, since he had no connection with the same in any way.

UNI